MORE THAN A PRINTER FOR THE
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
DLA Document Services is more than a printer for the Department of Defense
As a field activity of the Defense Logistics Agency, DLA Document Services has been serving the Department of Defense for over 60 years. Some simply call us the "DOD's printer" or the “quick copy guys”. We have evolved to be much more than that basic description implies.
Director Steve Sherman says “We certainly provide both of those services, but if you believe that is all we do then you are missing the full story. We provide a full portfolio of best value document services ranging from traditional offset printing, through on-demand output, to online document services."; He noted, “We are the catalyst for document automation in DOD by actively functioning as a transformation agent to move the department toward the use of online documents and services."
Documents are a common denominator and key enabler to any business, including DOD. DLA Document Services is DOD’s full-service document solutions provider. This perspective is recognized among industry experts as well. Charlie Corr, Group Director for industry analyst, InfoTrends, observed, "It is one of the most innovative and dedicated organizations that we work with in the document space. They consistently leverage their expertise around documents to the benefit of their varied clients."
DLA Document Services currently manages more than 180 service facilities, primarily located on U.S. military bases world-wide in seven countries. Besides this robust organic capability, the organization leverages the capabilities of the industry by outsourcing nearly 70 percent of the DOD’s document requirements through more than 400 commercial service contracts, some of which are through the Government Printing Office.
The multitude of DLA Document Services services include the building of libraries of digital documents allowing for online access, the provision of multifunctional devices (that print from networks, copy, fax, and scan) in customer workspaces, and the conversion of paper documents to standard digital formats. “We want people to know that online document services are now the largest part of our business”, says Sherman.
An example is the Electronic Document Management Service to assist the Defense Distribution Center in electronically capturing, processing, managing and storing millions of documents used in supplying U.S. military units worldwide. DLA Document Services helps DDC administer more than 21 million pages annually of documentation such as invoices, packing lists and bills of lading that identify receipt, transportation, and inventory transactions from its distribution sites worldwide.
Sam Notarangelo, DDC Supply Management Specialist and EDMS user said, "EDMS is a great logistics tool for researching many facets of the distribution process. When I am researching material I may only have a NSN (National Stock Number), or a GBL (Government Bill of Lading), or very little information. With EDMS I can access one site and find what I am looking for. It is also a time saver by allowing me to access a lot of information that can also be easily printed. EDMS has reduced my time spent on research."
Another example of the trend toward the use of the organization’s online services is the Acquisition Streamlining and Standardization Information System (ASSIST). It is a robust, comprehensive life cycle document management and digital library providing web access to all current military and federal specifications and standards referenced in DOD contracts. There are over 47,000 active specification and standard documents online with over 15 million “hits” to the web site each month.
Our online document services include:
• Web based eCommerce access to services allowing the customer to shop, order, and obtain status (of job delivery and accounts) online from their desktop.
• Electronic Document Management – a service to build complex digital libraries of documents with online access. Centers of Excellence provide shared EDM customer support. A digital library can enhance a customer’s business by exacting discipline and providing workflow functionality for its daily processes. DLA Document Services has automated all categories of documents and for all or part of the document life cycle.
• Distribute and Print Services – the distribution of standard digital document files to any of our worldwide production facilities with output on demand within hours to days depending on the size of the job. This compares to the traditional bulk printing and mail distribution process that can require weeks and sometimes months to accomplish.
• Equipment Management Solutions – DLA Document Services is one of the government’s largest providers of best value output and scanning equipment directly into customer workspaces.
• Document Conversion Services – with billions of pages converted for customers, DLA Document Services is the leader in the federal government.
• Document Assessments – office copiers, printers, faxes and scanners are low cost items and often are not perceived as a cost driver. DLA Document Services conducts objective analysis which provides an inventory of these items in the customer workspace determines the current cost and makes solid recommendations to save dollars. Studies completed so far have saved customers between eight and 41 percent.
We can provide the training materials required to take a military career enhancing examination even in remote locations. The Medical Director of the Combat Medic Training Center, LSA Anaconda, Balad, Iraq commended the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Office and its facilities for the production of medical training documents needed by the center. Using the online ordering service and its inherent distribute and print capabilities, a digital file was sent from Oklahoma to our Europe facilities and printed there. The completed documents were then shipped to Iraq by a commercial carrier, thus saving time and money as compared to producing and shipping them from the United States.
A U.S. Navy senior career counselor with the Combined Forces Command Afghanistan arranged for several sailors assigned to the command to take a Naval Advancement Examination while they were at Panjshir Valley, Afghanistan. The exam’s documents were printed at the DLA Document Services Saufley Field, Florida facility near the Naval Air Station Pensacola.
DLA Document Services knows the value of customer relationship management in living by the mottos We Exist for the Convenience of the Customer and Can Do Right Now. It realizes customer service and responsiveness are the main differentiators to being the DOD’s best value provider.
The organization serves the Commander-in-Chief as the President’s document provider. It was bestowed this distinction by Executive Order 12134 of May 9, 1979 which states it would provide printing and duplication services to the White House. DLA Documents Services continues to staff a facility, located in the Executive Office Building, in direct support to the White House. Just as important, is the President’s ability to get support from our facilities worldwide during his travels.
The Director said, "We are proud to serve the most demanding customers in the world – the warfighter - who defend our nation’s freedom every day. Our customers regularly tell me their DLA Document Services representative cares as much about their requirement as they do – that’s the epitome of customer service."
• From the White House: "Everyone in your office is extremely diligent, thorough and accurate in all that they do."
• From the Pentagon: "Our success depended upon a staff working at the highest level of competence, exercising unquestioned judgment and discretion and willing to work at an intense pace."
• From a Defense Supply Center: "Your preparation and attention to detail resulted in a very successful event and reflected the professionalism of my command."
• From the US Navy Fleet: "Their great attitudes and quick turnaround accomplished the major undertaking with an outstanding and professional product."
• From the US Marine Corps: "A most useful ally in completing my job."
• From the US Air Force: "They have met all requests our office has submitted no matter how short the time frame."
DLA Document Services is so much more than just the DOD’s printer. Further information can be found on its website at www.documentservices.dla.mil or by calling its customer service line at 1-877-327-7226.