The present Department of Defense mobilization planning with private industry does little to strengthen U.S. industrial capacity to meet emergency requirements.

The Department's planning with individual contractors to produce and support the military material required for American defense forces in a national emergency is inadequate. Contractors' capacity projections to meet wartime requirements are generally unreliable, and little is done once the data is received by the services to overcome forecasted production problems. The overall adequacy of industries' capability to meet mobilization requirements is, in many instances, unknown. Present planning is being attempted on too large a scale in relation to available funding. There are neither planners to adequately plan nor sufficient funding to carry the planning forward. The credibility of the program with industry has been lost.

Status Legend:

Review Pending-GAO has not yet assessed implementation status.

Open-Actions to satisfy the intent of the recommendation have not been taken or are being planned, or actions that partially satisfy the intent of the recommendation have been taken.

Closed-implemented-Actions that satisfy the intent of the recommendation have been taken.

Closed-not implemented-While the intent of the recommendation has not been satisfied, time or circumstances have rendered the recommendation invalid.

• Review Pending
• Open
• Closed - implemented
• Closed - not implemented

Recommendation for Executive Action

Recommendation: Rather than continuing the program on the present scale, planning objectives should be brought more in line with available resources. The Secretary of Defense should require a restructure of the Industrial Preparedness Planning program, taking into consideration the need to determine the priority of the program in the overall defense strategy and to match what can be accomplished with resources to be committed.

Agency Affected:

Status: Closed

Comments: Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.