Views on Logistics, Candid Voices, Providing Responsive Logistics Support: Applying LEAN Thinking to Logistics

Lets look at the age old problem of logistics support and sustain the warfighting mission. In order to satisfy this, the logistics system supply, repair, production, transportation, etc. must provide customers with what they need when they need it. It must also minimize the cost to the customer. What is needed to satisfy each of these requirements In order to provide customers what they need when they need it, the logistics system must repair, produce or purchase things based on forecasted demands. However, in order to minimize the cost to the customer, the logistics system must repair, produce or purchase only what the customers requests and only when they ask for it. Obviously we have a conflict we cannot execute repair, produce or purchase based on forecasted customer demand and execute based on actual customer demand. The problem is real and has existed since time immemorial. The question before us now is whether we can find a solution to the problem.