Researchers at the University of Maryland are taking the first steps to develop a 21st century interactive supply chain system for the U.S. military — one that will get repairable military equipment back into battle sooner and at less cost. The work represents the first effort to implement the “sense and respond logistics” concept envisioned by the Department of Defense as part of its force transformation effort.

With a $2.1 million grant awarded by the Office of the Secretary of Defense, an interdisciplinary team led by the University of Maryland's Center for Public Policy and Private Enterprise will conduct a 12-month project to develop a prototype web-based supply network using advanced technologies to acquire and deliver replacement parts on an as-needed basis. The center will partner with Maryland's A. James Clark School of Engineering on the project.

The demonstration project will involve maintenance of F/A-18 Navy fighter jets, and will link together advanced technologies — prognostics that can diagnose supply needs while equipment is still in combat, novel wireless communications to relay these needs to maintenance officers and automatic identification techniques (RFID is the most common current example) to locate parts in the supply chain all integrated through a secure web portal.

“This is an unprecedented experiment, and it's critical for the military to move in this direction,” said Jacques Gansler, former under secretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics during the Clinton administration, who directs Maryland's Center for Public Policy and Private Enterprise. “Pulling all these technologies together in the military context can add efficiency, flexibility and maneuverability to U.S. forces.”

One of the elements in the proposed system's technological chain is the use of prognostics — the warning systems built into the F/A-18s and other advanced military assets that can detect unusual mechanical performance and analyze the likely cause.

The Office of the Secretary of Defense has been exploring the concept of “sense and respond logistics” in recent years, but the researchers say this will be the first effort to implement the system.

“If we get smarter about what we put into the supply chain, we can help transform the way military units operate,” said William Lucyshyn, co-investigator on the project and director of research at the Center for Public Policy and Private Enterprise. “With the F/A-18s, the goal is to reduce the down time and maximize the fighting force while still reducing the support costs. This can make a significant difference in military effectiveness.”

With this demonstration project, the researchers plan to develop a web portal and an implementation roadmap that can eventually be put into practice on a wide scale — for F/A-18s as well as other planes and weapon systems.