Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) Fleet Logistics Center (FLC) Jacksonville partnered with Naval Medical Logistics Command (NAVMEDLOGCOM) to identify improvements in allowancing and outfitting of medical and dental supply readiness for our new construction ships.

New construction shipyards have continuously reported significant shortages that negatively impacted the availability of initial Emergency Authorized Medical and Authorized Dental Allowances (AMAL/ADAL), preventing them from meeting Navy's supply readiness objective of 97 percent Coordinated Shipboard Allowance List (COSAL) supplies being onboard and the safe to sail inspection of materials that focuses on the AMAL/ADAL inventory prior to sail away.

NAVSUP FLC Jacksonville's detachment at Supervisor of Shipbuilding Gulf Coast turned to NAVSUP FLC Jacksonville Continuous Process Improvement (CPI) Black Belt, Ricky Toups, for assistance.

Partnering with NAVMEDLOGCOM, Toups built a team of key stakeholders from the shipbuilding community and sought input from the Type Command, Fleet Forces Surgeon and ships medical/dental personnel. The team utilized workload, cause and effects and root cause analysis, as well as mitigation, to focus on the critical elements that plagued timely delivery of AMAL/ADAL material. They determined that the existing method of procurement was the issue.

So, where's the fix? Further analysis resulted in the team determining that the best solution was to change the method of procurement to an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract which has the benefits of simplified ordering, faster delivery and fewer cancellations due to obsolescence. This simple change will result in new construction ships being mission ready, increase the quality of patient care, and can be replicated throughout the shipbuilding community.

It's easy to know there's a problem, but by using NAVSUP's Continuous Process Improvement methodology, NAVSUP FLC Jacksonville and NAVMEDLOGCOM have ensured the new construction ships will be "safe to sail."

NAVSUP FLC Jacksonville delivers world-class, innovative, and unified operational logistics products and services for the Southeast Region and the U.S. Navy's 4th Fleet stakeholders ensuring mission integrity and operational readiness for the warfighter.

NAVSUP (FLC) Jacksonville, one of eight fleet logistics centers under NAVSUP Global Logistics Support (GLS), provides operational logistics, business and support services to fleet, shore and industrial commands of the Navy, Coast Guard, Military Sealift Command, and other Joint and Allied Forces. Services include contracting, regional transportation, fuel, material management, household goods movement support, postal and consolidated mail, warehousing, global logistics and husbanding, hazardous material management, and integrated logistics support.

NAVSUP GLS is comprised of more than 6,500 military and civilian logistics professionals operating from 105 locations worldwide providing an extensive array of integrated global logistics and contracting services to Navy, Marine Corps, joint operational units, and allied forces across all warfare enterprises.

NAVSUP GLS is part of NAVSUP's worldwide logistics network of more than 22,500 military and civilian personnel providing "One-Touch Supply."

For more news from Naval Supply Systems Command, visit www.navy.mil/.