Army Equipment: Management of Weapon System and Equipment Modification Program Needs Improvement
NSIAD-98-14
Published: Oct 10, 1997. Publicly Released: Oct 10, 1997.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided information on the Army's management of its modification work order (MWO) program, focusing on: (1) the availability of information needed by Army headquarters and field personnel to effectively oversee and manage the MWO program; (2) the availability of spare parts needed by personnel in the field to maintain modified equipment; and (3) field personnel's experiences in implementing the MWO program.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of the Army | In considering the upcoming results of the MWO process action team, the Secretary of the Army should direct actions necessary to provide managers at all levels ready access to the information they need to oversee, manage, and implement the MWO program and to ensure compliance with Army policies and procedures. |
The Army is aware of the need for managers at all levels to have access to modification work order (MWO) information. The Army developed a Modification Management Information System. The Army has budgeted funds to manage the system and to link the MWO data system to the Army's financial system. The system is operational, and data on all new MWOs has been entered since July 1998. Full implementation is authorized by revised regulation AR750-10 which was issued in September 2000 and is available on the web at USAPA.ARMY.MIL under electronic publications for DADSLOB. A HQDA message was published in September 1999 which explained and implemented the information system. The implementation is complete and will receive continued policing of implementation as the MWOs have to be validated and coordinated in order to receive funding through the POM. DA officials believe that the new information system and the revised regulation will ensure adequate information and coordination for all new modification work orders.
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| Department of the Army | In considering the upcoming results of the MWO process action team, the Secretary of the Army should clarify regulations to ensure that program sponsors and supply system personnel provide proper logistical support for modified equipment, including: (1) ordering appropriate initial spare parts when MWO kits are ordered; (2) updating technical information and providing it to units when MWO kits are installed; and (3) properly phasing out old spare parts and adding new items to its supply system. |
Army Regulation (AR) 750-10 was issued September 2000. The regulation requires that program sponsors and supply system personnel provide proper logistical support for modified equipment, including: (1) ordering appropriate spare parts when modification work order (MWO) kits are ordered; (2) updating technical information; and (3) properly phasing out old spare parts and adding new items to supply system. It also re-establishes a configuration control board and links approval of MWOs to the funding cycle.
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| Department of the Army | In considering the upcoming results of the MWO process action team, the Secretary of the Army should establish an effective mechanism for program sponsors to coordinate and schedule their MWOs, among themselves and their customers, to reduce the amount of manpower and to minimize the reportable mission time required to complete the MWOs. |
The policies in the revised AR 750-10 address the coordination between program sponsors and other organizations to minimize the manpower requirements and ensure that, where possible, modification work orders (MWO) are applied to all units at one location at the same time. The MWO MIS now includes the data elements and access that program sponsors need to coordinate the installation of multiple MWOs to one system.
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Topics
Army suppliesEquipment maintenanceInventory control systemsLogisticsManagement information systemsMilitary budgetsMilitary inventoriesSpare partsWeapons systemsU.S. Army