Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) Business Systems Center (BSC) deployed the Navy Logistics Management Standards (NLMS) system, a logistics information technology (IT) solution that ensures compliance with Department of Defense (DOD) standards across the NAVSUP Enterprise, August 6.

The NLMS system is designed to improve business processes by providing a single solution that effectively standardizes, tracks, and communicates defense compliant data sets across NAVSUP applications.

“The fleet is the real beneficiary of this,” said Kurt Wendelken, Assistant Commander for Supply Chain Technology/Systems Integration (N2/N6), NAVSUP. “We’re unlocking Navy Supply Corps’ ability to communicate more efficiently with enhanced data to support their missions.”

The solution standardizes and extends the sharing of supply data among NAVSUP IT systems using a service-oriented architecture.

“It works as part of the NAVSUP Enterprise IT infrastructure to supply the fleet with data for applications such as One Touch Support, Electronic Retrograde Management System, and Commercial Asset Visibility,” said Andrew Festa, NLMS project manager, NAVSUP BSC.

While there is no direct interface with the NLMS system for fleet users, Sailors accessing NAVSUP applications will have access to additional data components, such as lines of accounting and serial numbers, enabling them to make more informed business decisions.

“The NLMS system brings NAVSUP into compliance with Defense Logistics Management Standards (DLMS),” said Josh Eggleston, NLMS project manager, NAVSUP BSC. “Our initial deployment of NLMS focused on transforming data sets to be compliant and is our first service-oriented architecture production solution.”

By utilizing a service-oriented architecture, multiple logistics applications throughout the NAVSUP Enterprise can take advantage of data transformation through the NLMS system.

“Think of it like cellular towers shared by major corporations. Corporations could go out and build their own towers, but it would cost more, and there would be towers everywhere. Therefore, they share them.

“We did the same thing. Instead of building multiple solutions for each application to be compliant with DLMS, we built NLMS to transform data sets and provide the service across our enterprise applications using service-oriented architecture,” said Eggleston.

According to the Defense Logistics Agency, DLMS is a process governing logistics functional business management standards and practices. The DLMS interprets, prescribes, and implements defense policy in the functional areas of supply, transportation, acquisition (contract administration), maintenance, and finance. The DLMS, a system of governing logistics business management standards and practices, provides a functional infrastructure for the establishment and maintenance of procedural guidelines required for its user community, including the Navy, to carry out DOD logistics policy.

The NLMS system functions silently as middleware in the background, realizes DLMS standards, processes incoming and outgoing requisitions across NAVSUP applications, and continually communicates data sets that allow systems to update as required independently.

“This tool will allow systems to communicate even if they update at different times,” said Eggleston. “Data sets and requirements will continue to change as time goes on and NLMS will allow each application to continue functioning, even if they do not update within the same timeframe,” said Eggleston.

The NLMS system is also expected to improve auditability by tracking the transactions and data sets it sends and receives.

“We’ll be able to provide that information if needed and bring visibility to when and where the data is transmitted,” said Eggleston.

It additionally supports NAVSUP’s continuing efforts to reform and modernize their enterprise supply IT infrastructure.

“The system supports NAVSUP BSC’s advancement in the use of agile development methods, security at every level, and service-oriented architecture. The development of NLMS will continue to meet new requirements from the Navy and DOD,” said Festa.

David Childress, NLMS program manager for NAVSUP noted, “The Navy NLMS system differs from the Defense Automated Addressing System (DAAS) in that NLMS requires interfacing systems to provide DLMS compliant transactions or data elements, while DAAS accepts legacy supply transactions.”

NAVSUP BSC is one of 11 commands under Commander, NAVSUP, and provides information systems support through the design, development, and maintenance of information systems in the functional areas of logistics, supply chain management, transportation, finance, and accounting.

NAVSUP is headquartered in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, and employs a diverse, worldwide workforce of more than 22,500 military and civilian personnel. NAVSUP's mission is to provide supplies, services, and quality-of-life support to the Navy and joint warfighter.

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