Skip to main content

Inventory Management: DOD Can Build on Progress by Using Best Practices for Reparable Parts

NSIAD-98-97 Published: Feb 27, 1998. Publicly Released: Feb 27, 1998.
Jump To:
Skip to Highlights

Highlights

Pursuant to a legislative requirement, GAO reported on the feasibility of adding reparable parts to the list of consumable-type supplies and equipment covered by Section 395 of the National Defense Authorization Act of 1998, focusing on: (1) private-sector practices that streamline logistics operations; (2) Department of Defense (DOD) initiatives to improve its logistics systems; and (3) best practices that can be used to improve the military services' aircraft reparable parts pipeline.

Recommendations

Matter for Congressional Consideration

Matter Status Comments
If Congress decides it wants to expand the provisions of section 395 to include reparable parts, it may wish to consider: (1) broadening the responsibility for responding to this legislation to include the military services; and (2) developing provisions, similar to those in section 395, to encourage DOD to test combinations of best practices using a supply-chain management approach.
Closed – Implemented
The Strom Thurmond National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999 required that the secretary of each military department submit a schedule for implementing best commercial practices for the acquisition and distribution of secondary inventory items. The act required that these initiatives be completed no later than 5 years after enactment of the act. On June 14, June 16, and July 19, the Army, Navy, and Air Force, respectively, submitted best practice implementation schedules to Congress. In total, these schedules list 60 initiatives designed to improve inventory management within each of the military departments.

Full Report

Office of Public Affairs

Topics

Best practicesDefense cost controlEquipment repairsInventory control systemsLogisticsMilitary materielPrivate sector practicesComparative benchmarking productsU.S. ArmyU.S. Air Force