The Defense Logistics Agency has launched the Technical Data Management Transformation, or TDMT, a new initiative aimed at enhancing operational efficiency.
At the DLA Supply Chain Alliance Symposium and Exhibition, Kenneth Watson, the agency’s acting commander for land and maritime, said DLA’s previous system relied on “slow and outdated” data package exchange, which led to lengthy back-and-forths.
“But there’s a smarter way to do business, and we’re doing that right now,” he added.
DLA Modernizing Technical Data Management
The initiative will see DLA adopt an automated technical data management system.
Automation is not new to the agency. Over 90 percent of contract actions are now fully automated at the DLA. According to Watson, automation has also been introduced into much of the agency’s supply chain, except for technical data.
DLA has already started piloting a program that can automate the technical data “kill chain.” The program automatically integrates the latest technical data generated from product lifecycle management systems into a central, digital repository.
“Having that tech data accurate, ready and being passed digitally back and forth is absolutely essential to how we’re going to do business,” the official explained. “That in a nutshell is what the [technical data management transformation] is all about.”
Watson added that the first phase of the modernization initiative will connect TDMT with DLA’s enterprise business systems. The feature will go live in November.
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