Defense Logistics Agency (DLA)

Among the sources of America's vast national power is its ability to deploy the men and women of the armed forces to any location on the planet and to sustain them there in an exceptionally high state of warfighting readiness. This ability is wholly dependent upon the superior personnel readiness of its Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines, the outstanding readiness of the aircraft, ships, tanks and other platforms essential to combat, and the nation's ability to sustain readiness, regardless of locale or duration.

The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) is the bridge between the warfighter and the American industrial base, the underlying source of the nation's military power. The military services rely on the agency for 100% of their subsistence items, medical materiel, clothing, footwear and protective garments, all the essentials of personnel readiness. DLA also provides 100% of the services' worldwide fuel and energy requirements, essential elements of force projection. Not stopping there, DLA provides approximately 95% of the repair parts the services require to keep warfighting platforms and warfighting support equipment in top-notch flying, driving and steaming condition, essential elements of force readiness and sustainment.

The agency's vision is to extend the enterprise forward to meet the needs of the warfighter by providing the right item, right service, right place, right price, right time, every time. DLA has identified three strategic thrusts to achieve this vision, each designed to move the agency beyond its traditional wholesaler responsibilities. These include:

• Extend the Enterprise – DLA resources will geographically align with supported activities far more than today. While agency supply and distribution centers will remain activity hubs, DLA employees, inventories, and logistics capabilities will be located forward, beyond traditional agency borders to capitalize on best value opportunities to improve warfighter readiness. This will allow DLA to extend processes, capabilities, and effects deeper into customer and supplier operations, as well as expand business operations through Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) efforts.
• Connect Warfighter Demand with Supply – DLA will transform the DoD demand planning capabilities and the processing of demand signals throughout the supply chain. Building on the agency’s recent evolution from managing supplies to managing suppliers, DLA will establish and manage seamless business process links between the services’ materiel requirements and the source of their materiel—the American industrial base. This will enable DLA to improve forecast accuracy through collaboration, improving supplier performance and reducing delivery time to the customer through collaborative supply planning and strategic material sourcing.
• Deliver Supply Chain Excellence – Recognizing that warfighter support diminishes if a supply chain sub-optimizes or fails to perform, DLA will forge end-to-end logistics solutions that strike the targeted balance between effectiveness, agility, reliability, speed, visibility, and cost. DLA stewardship responsibilities extend beyond the agency to effective and efficient  logistics processes for the entire DoD enterprise. In every case, DLA will exercise responsible leadership by proactively collaborating with national supply chain partners in developing solutions that best support the warfighter.

DLA’s three strategic thrusts impact its four goals, which serve as DLA’s Component priorities. Achievement of these priorities will help DLA implement its strategy and achieve its vision. The four priorities are:

1. Warfighter Support – Maximize Warfighter Potential
2. Internal Processes – Improve DLA performance through better processes and business arrangements
3. Learning and Growth – Ensure a diverse, enabled, empowered, and motivated workforce that delivers and sustains supply chain excellence
4. Stewardship – Manage DLA Resources for Best Customer Value

Cases In Point:

Business Systems Modernization (BSM)

Improving Asset Visibility with DLA's Integrated Data Environment (IDE)