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Show OHilhopHmes April 1. 2004 Landing gear council transforms parts ordering by Karl Tilton Htop 77mes assistant editor A team of commodities experts with the Ogden ALC Landing Gear Requirements branch are in the final stages of developing a plan to simplify and improve their supply purchasing processes, their aim to end the waiting game now associated with new parts orders. The Path Finder Council stood up here in August and is working to formulate a strategic plan for long-terparts support to improve the availability of parts while reducing costs, improving overall quality and shortening delivery times. "Instead of buying parts on an basis, we're working to create long-tersupport contracts," said Maj. Kurt Kolch, the commodity council program manager. This will significantly cut the delays associated with the purchasing processes, he said. Currently, to order new parts, the branch must submit a purchase request through contracting who then announces a request for proposal, or bid. Once bids come in from interested companies, contracting personnel here sort through the bids and select a supplier based on a variety of criteria. After the contractor is selected, the order can be placed. On average, the whole process takes more than 500 days, said Tony Garcia, the council's equipment specialist. It takes about 134 days to initiate the contract and 370 days for the supplier to produce the part, he added. Long-tercontracts will potentially reduce this order time to m m m , 1 17. IUl about a week and also promises to produce far less paperwork. the branch initiated 860 contacts to purDuring fiscal years chase 527 different items, Major Kolch said. The Landing Gear Requirements Branch manages more than e 2,000 landing gear and wheel and brake parts, according to Ernst, the council's item manager. One significant challenge to the council has been researching all the different databases to review lists of where each of the parts are currently purchased, how many have been purchased and for how much, she said. The council is also reviewing contractor performance and history of backorders. Another big challenge for the council is developing a long-terstrategy balancing their need for parts against the amount of funds available to pay for those parts. "It's always been a balancing act because we don't have unlimited funds and can't always anticipate fluctuating demands," Major 00-0- Kris-tin- m Kolch said. "We plan to create more flexible contracts that allow for occasional expedited delivery when needed," said Steve Weiss, the council's contracting officer. The council also plans to insert performance-base- d logistics measurements in the contracts, according to Doug Wiser, the council's engineer. "We want to improve the support from our suppliers including reduced cost, better delivery schedule and increased reliability." Civilian industries have functioned like this for several years and have saved millions of dollars, said Robert Markgraf, a consultant from IBM who serves on the council. The team's experts come from a variety of backgrounds and specialize in landing gear programs or are experts in the Air Forces supply and purchasing arena. The landing e team, gear commodity council is made up of a core, or role. "The entire team in a extended an and support team, serving has made significant contributions to the success of this council," Major Kolch said. The council was established in response to a call by Air Force Mobility Command to streamline logistics operations to provide faster and more reliable support to the war fighter. Additional Path Finder Councils were also established at each of Air Force Mobility Command Air Logistics Centers. The teams are investigating current supply chain business processes, focusing on a variety of aircraft parts and support equipment in an effort to transform the command's Purchasing and Supply Chain Management practices. A second commodities council will stand up here this summer in the Logistics Management Directorate's Secondary Power Systems branch. (Air Force Material Command News Service contributed to this article) cross-function- al full-tim- Families with high school seniors may stay longer in area Some RANDOLPH AFB, Texas (AFPN) Air Force families with a child entering his or her senior year of high school may get to stay longer at their current duty stations thanks to a new policy announced in March. "In today's environment of deployments and high operations tempo, if s important that we alleviate stress on families wherever we can," said Chief Master Sgt of the Air Force Gerald R. Murray. This initiative is designed to do that." This is a policy we think increases the quality of life for Air Force families," said Roger Blan-charAir Force assistant deputy chief of staff for personnel. The intent is to decrease turbulence and increase stability for military families." The High School Seniors Assignment Defer ment Program allows senior master sergeants and below, and officers up through the rank of lieutenant colonel, to apply for a assignk ment deferment. deferments may be possible, and couples may also one-ye- ar Back-to-bac- dual-milita- ry apply. Even with the changes, officials said the mission comes first and will be the overriding factor in granting deferments. "Requests will be considered on a basis," said Col. Kathleen Grabowski, chief of assignment programs and procedures at the Air Force Personnel Center here. The goal is to approve as many requests as mission needs allow se case-by-ca- d, without being unfair, but the reality is that some requests won't be possible due to Air Force be a dependent of and living with the Airman requesting the deferment, and he or she must be enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility System, she said. Officers will need to apply before being put on assignment while enlisted people will not apply until after being matched to an assignment, said Master Sgt. Letty Inabinet, superintendent of assignment procedures. Applications are available from military personnel flights and commander support staffs. Officials estimate that annually 20 to 25 percent of officers and senior noncommissioned officers A Roses Arranged 2 Dozen IIMMY'S ( v. I. . www jimmysfl J9-- I li o com 625-023- Layton 0 The Original is still the best!! 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