SCRUB-A-DUB DATA
Army Depot, it could be fielding to units at CENTCOM [U.S. Central Command], but these data cleansing efforts make sure that we are spot on with where our stock is located, where we distribute from, that our programs at our depots [have] the right requirements. And so it all funnels down to being able to provide those parts and support at the time of need.”
QUICK INFORMATION
DQAT tells provisioners what kind of errors a data set has, how many exist and what the overall risk of the file is, all in under two minutes. This is a sample page from one such report. (Image courtesy of Carlos Gonzalez- Perez, AMCOM Logistics Center)
“Let’s go back and analyze
all the ways we can make mistakes, and let’s engineer them out of the process.”
40 Army AL&T Magazine Spring 2020
Another initiative within the Materiel Management Directorate that ensures data accuracy is the compatibility tool. Tis tool reviews 20 key data elements, which govern how the supply chain is executed for each part, for regulatory compatibility. “Over 55,000 data element changes were made by teams working collaboratively across the directorates within ALC because the compatibility tool allowed the directorates to better see themselves,” Daniel said. Since April 2019, the combined accuracy of the 20 key elements has risen from 50.59 to 74.26 percent across all aviation and missile platforms because of those changes. Having accurate data allows the Logistics Modernization Program to run more efficiently and increases the accuracy of its recommendations, allow- ing parts to be procured, maintained, distributed and issued to Soldiers at the time and point of need.
As with most Army efforts, planning is critical to mission success, and ALC is planning the way ahead. “We have this tool that we’re building,” Daniel said. “It’s called a forward-looking tool that takes about 14 indicators. This tool, specifically, is concerned with what we call materiel management data.” The intent is that it will learn to recognize future issues with materiel management data as the 14 indicators are connected, and that artificial intelligence (AI) will be applied to the tool to give results in real time for those indicators.
Daniel doesn’t want to wait on a manual pull and analysis of copious amounts of data when artificial intelligence would be able to flag errors almost instantaneously. “I want AI to help us project problems, potential problems, and we resolve them before we ever get to that problem state,” Daniel said. Several manufacturers are also working to incorporate AI into their supply chain management. “So, for the first time, can we connect our supply chains? Possibly. From end to end. Now, that’s far-ranging, but that’s what I hope is in our future by doing this,” she added.
CONCLUSION Without a suite of tools aimed at the common goal of data cleansing, ALC would not have been able to achieve those 55,000 corrections in just a few short months. DQAT, the forward-looking tool and the compatibility tool are critical to ensuring the accuracy of current data at the center. Te tools are an important step in becoming proactive about data qual- ity and the downstream effects it has on Soldiers in the field.
Pieper emphasized that the bottom line of the data cleansing effort, and all future efforts, is mission readiness for the Soldier. Downrange, Soldiers can only take a certain amount of equipment and supplies with them. “If they couldn’t take it with them, they are counting on us to get it to them,” he said. “When they need it is when they need it.”
For more information, go to https://
www.amcom.army.mil/.
JACQUELINE M. HAMES is an editor with Army AL&T magazine. She holds a B.A. in creative writing from Christopher Newport University. She has more than 12 years of experience writing and editing news and feature articles for publication.
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