Integrated Global Information Successes

The industry and Department of Defense (DoD) are both migrating away from “stovepiped” logistics information systems to adequately perform their supply and maintenance functions and are moving toward integrated global information architectures where multiple users can create and exploit authoritative information for their logistics function.   The Marine Corps has done this through the implementation of Global Combat Service Support Marine Corps or GCSS-MC. As industry and DoD modernize the logistics information architectures it has been clearly evident that during the post-deployment phase of these systems a gap has arisen between the users knowledge specific to their functional business processes and proper utilization of the system.  To address these implementation gaps Anglicotech, NCMS through initiatives in the CTMA program, and the Marine Corps have developed and are currently maturing various organizational change management procedures to derive best practice solutions for implementation of an Enterprise Resource Planning tool (ERP).  The team has found solutions to these knowledge, procedural and training gaps and is creating well-trained, technically adept, and forward-thinking Marine logisticians that can fully utilize the latest ERP.

One of the keys to the successful implementation of an ERP involves the training and education of the end users. Anglicotech teams have developed training packages executed in a classroom environment and over the shoulder in units throughout the Marine Corps. This level of effort, sometimes extending down to one-on-one sessions with Marines, has led to an improved level of understanding and the continual progression in the skills and expertise of the Marines in relation to the ERP. A cornerstone of the training is the curriculum that identifies the proper processes and procedures utilized in the system.  The Anglicotech team has been involved with the curriculum for every class within the catalog of courses for GCSS-MC and continues to develop new techniques that address the capabilities of the ERP and better ways for the Marines to utilize it.

To date 5,096 Marines have been provided training and assistance through classroom instruction or a team-assist visit to the Marine Unit. Each unit-assist visit analyzed records, processes and procedures, and system utilization. More importantly, the teams provided training and technical expertise, as well as documents and tools for the units to use after the teams departed. As practicable, the teams would revisit the units four to six weeks after the initial assist visit to see how the unit was doing and provide additional help as needed. The assist visits allow the Marines to be fully immersed in GCSS-MC, performing real-world transactions, all while having a duty expert there to provide insight and training.  These real-world scenarios provide greater system understanding and increased knowledge retention.

During these assist visits the teams have corrected millions of dollars in records discrepancies, implemented proper asset utilization procedures, and provided proper alignment of resources within GCSS-MC. These automated tools and reports have been adopted across the Corps and continue to provide technical examples, details for unit set ups and alignment, identification and correction procedures of discrepancies and utilization of the ERP that increase readiness and make the units more efficient and effective.

This global collaborative initiative has benefitted the Marine Corps as they implemented an ERP supporting hundreds of thousands of people spread across hundreds of locations around the globe.  This enables industry to have greater insight into the issues resulting from transitioning to a modern global logistics information systems from legacy “stovepipe” information systems. These efforts can then be translated into actions that can be utilized at various levels throughout industry and the DoD.