E-business pilots prove successful
Anonymous. Newsletter - United States. Navy Supply Corps
66. 3 (May/Jun 2003): 25-28.
The Department of the Navy eBusiness Operations Office in Mechanicsburg, Pa., is home to a high tech business initiative driving efficiencies in Naval and Marine Corps operations throughout the world. By funding pilot projects proposed by various agencies, the eBusiness Office is finding early success and proving profitable for a variety of military activities.
Two examples of successful projects are Auto-READ for Naval Air Systems Command, Lakehurst, N.J., and Tactical PDA Use in Naval Construction Forces TO A Replenishment, for the Naval Construction Battalion Center N6, Port Hueneme, Calif. Both applications utilize proven COTS technology, including hand-held computers, adapted to Navy requirements.
Auto-READ is an application that automates the data collection, analysis, and reporting of flight critical Planned Maintenance System (PMS) "as found" measurement data for arresting gear (AG) systems on board Navy aircraft carriers. The AG is the cable that stops an aircraft on each carrier landing. Failure of the AG to operate correctly can result in damage to recovering aircraft and other aircraft on deck as well as injury or loss of life to aircrew and flight deck personnel.
The current system of collecting and recording critical aircraft launch and recovery equipment (ALRE) preventative maintenance data is performed manually using a variety of hard copy documentation. This data may be prone to human error and is not used for historical analysis.
The Auto-READ application maintains all the required documents and information on a ruggedized handheld computer. Manual math calculations are automated at the point of maintenance, improving both process and data accuracy. "Smart" XML-based entry forms flag out-of-tolerance/out-of-range data items and provide comparison to historical readings for that part. This initiative provides a very streamlined process for data collection, analysis, and reporting of "as found" and calibration data not currently available to the fleet, NAVAIR or Naval Sea Systems Command.
The success of this project will provide significant improvements in maintenance effectiveness and workload reduction through process automation. In addition, fleet readiness will increase due to the ability to analyze the maintenance data and pick up failure trends in equipment, parts, and components.
The Table of Allocation (TO A) pilot project improved and expanded the Naval Facilities Engineering Command supported units mission capabilities with new, state of the art, tactical communications equipment that is capable of transferring data in addition to voice communications. Previously, voice transmissions were the only available means of communication, but not necessarily the most practical manner to transmit data. Many times, critical information was lost due to interference or misinterpretation. The most effective method of transmitting mission critical data is computer-to-computer.
The primary objective of TO A was to enable tactical data transfer via the existing tactical secure radios used by the NAVFAC supported units. The pilot team designed and developed software and hardware that allowed standard Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) to transfer logistics and operational data over the existing tactical radio equipment. The team incorporated the use of PDA technology into a wireless environment enabling detached operations from a tactical local area network or desktop, electronic work order and approved parts procurement.
The application provides war fighters with the ability to transfer data files over secure tactical radios. This results in improved readiness, productivity and operational capabilities. Additionally, the development of required software and hardware, specifically a cable, which utilizes the standard ADF port available on all tactical radios, significantly reduces or eliminates the costs of required proprietary software and hardware created by the various radio manufacturers.
The Auto-READ and TO A projects were very well received by the command support, as well as by the V-2 maintainers and the field support units who tested the applications. Both applications are in the process of being fully implemented throughout the commands.
These are just two of the innovative success stories the DON eBusiness Operations Office has produced. Several other projects have received eGov awards and the office itself has been honored as a performance leader.
Established in September 2000, the Department of the Navy eBusiness Operations Office has made a significant impact throughout the military commands it serves. Acting as a catalyst and enabler, the office provides the funding and project management to conduct e-business pilot projects, combining technology infusion with business process improvements. To date, the office has funded over 35 projects, providing solutions to critical areas such as distance support, maintenance and engineering, commu-nications, readiness, logistics, medical, and procurement.
The pilot projects funded by the DON eBusiness Operations Office are created to demonstrate a proof of concept utilizing off-the-shelf and leading edge technology. "E-business implementation produces operational efficiencies, improved customer service and results in a saving of time and dollars," explains Karen Gadbois, Director of Pilot Funding and Management. "The purpose of our pilot program is to critically evaluate the latest technologies in use in the public and private sectors and demonstrate their viability and usefulness across the full range of Navy and Marine Corps functional areas. Once proven, the pilot may be implemented throughout the organization."
The DON eBusiness Operations Office has two primary objectives: to be an e-business innovation center, providing consultative services and idea sharing for the emerging uses of commercial e-business solutions relevant to the Navy and Marine Corps; and to serve as a focal point for management of financial card and smart card applications. The office continues to encourage pilot project submissions at any time for funding consideration via its Web site at http://www.don-ebusiness.navsup.navy.mil. The next successful pilot project is just a click away!
FY 2003 eBusiness Pilot
Projects Funded to Date
The DON eBusiness Operations Office has announced $7 million in funding for their first and second portfolios of fiscal year 2003 eBusiness pilot projects. With projects ranging from just-in-time aircraft wiring diagrams to Web-savvy briefing tools, this line-up includes the following 12 pilots.
* Naval Collaborative Engineering Environment for assistant secretary of the Navy's Research, Development and Acquisition Chief Engineer Office in Arlington, Va. This effort will enable better information sharing, planning, coordination, and resolution of interoperability issues between the Naval Force Systems Architectures Repository and the Naval Tool for Interoperability Risk Assessment.
* Auto-Content Infrastructure for the Naval Sea Systems Command's Fleet Combat System Operational Sequencing System Development and Implementation Team in Little Creek, Va. This pilot seeks to gain business efficiencies by creating a single-source publishing environment where detailed technical operating procedures and diagrams can be stored and managed for reuse in multiple documents.
* Refueling and Complex Overhaul Integrated Maintenance Package for USS Dwight D. Eisen-hower (CVN 69). The project is designed to significantly reduce the number of resource conflicts and amount of rework during shipyard maintenance availabilities with a Web-accessible workload planning and management system that better integrates ship's force and shipyard maintenance tasks.
* Integrated Interactive Data Briefing Tool for Commander 2nd Fleet, Norfolk, Va. Using the Web-based communications protocol "XML," this tool will integrate existing IT investments with new applications and services to provide more comprehensive and timely briefs to the commander and his staff. Furthermore, XML will allow programs written in different languages on different platforms to communicate with each other.
* Just-ln-Time Wiring Information System for NAVAIR. The Just-in-Time Wiring Information System will integrate the Aircraft Wiring Information System, technical references, and interactive computer-aided cable Repair System. This project will provide accurate and timely component and repair tool information for these vital wiring systems.
* Quality Assurance Self-Assessment for the Naval Supply Systems Command's Fleet and Industrial Supply Center, Norfolk, Va. The Quality Assurance Self Assessment project will provide a Web-based system to automate the quality assurance self-assessment acquisition review process. This initiative will provide an online tool to create, store, and disseminate accurate information and metrics to achieve better acquisition management quality.
* Musculoskeletal Mobile Data Collection/EMR for the Bone and Joint/Sport Medicine Institute of the Naval Hospital Portsmouth, Va. This effort will improve patient care and reduce multiple levels of administrative support via a standardized musculoskeletal data collection system that leverages the mobility of handheld devices to deliver complete documentation throughout the evaluation, treatment, rehabilitation, and recondi- tioning cycles.
* Aircraft Shot and Recovery Log (ASRL) for the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division in Lakehurst, N.J. ASRL will reduce time, cost, and errors in the collection, storage, and distribution of critical flight safety information for the Navy's V2 aircraft. The use of simulation as an on-board training tool for pilots and squadrons to access real-time performance data will be an added function of the pilot project.
* Base Operational Services/ Facility Support Contracts for the Naval Facilities Systems Command in Washington, D.C. This initiative will provide an online tool to perform program reviews, spending analyses, and improve the management of service contracts for the Navy's $1.7 billion Facilities Service Program.
* Naval Survival Training Institute Learning Management System for the Naval Operations Medicine Institute Detachment in Pensacola. Fla. This pilot project will interface with and enhance existing Chief of Naval Operations and Chief of Naval Education and Training data repositories to provide real-time recording, reporting, scheduling, and archiving of all Naval Survival Training Institute qualifications.
* Clinical Decision Support System for the Naval Hospital in Jacksonville, Fla. This effort leverages the open-source architecture of the Medical Appointing pilot project by adding population health reporting, data mining, clinical practice guide-lines, case management, and referral tracking functionality to improve workflow and decision making processes.
* Clinger-Cohen Compliance for the NAVAIR. The Clinger-Cohen Act was enacted in 1996 to streamline Information Technology (IT) acquisitions and emphasize life cycle management of IT as a capital investment. By integrating Clinger-Cohen Act requirements with automated information and weapon systems, this prototype system will perform end-to-end processing, accommodate total process visibility and records management, and produce a better process for IT procurements. The DON eBusiness Operations Office helps Navy and Marine Corps e-business concepts become realities. Pilot submissions are evaluated continuously from Navy and Marine Corps commands, with the opportunity to have a submission selected for funding on an ongoing basis.
Ideas for pilot projects may be submitted to http://www.don-ebusiness.navsup.navy.mil. If you are interested in setting up an appointment with a representative from the DON eBusiness Operations Office, please contact the office via email, pilot_projects@navsup.navy.mil, or phone, (717) 605-9405, DSN 430-9405.
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