Although the United States Army is known around the world for its extreme operational reach, high-technology weapons systems, and highly trained Soldiers, it is also one of the world\u2019s foremost logistics organizations. With the US Department of Defense spending over $2Bn in transportation-related logistics costs in 2017 alone [1], new technologies like additive manufacturing have the potential to revolutionize how the Army approaches logistics \u2013 particularly how it procures and distributes spare parts across the world.<\/p>\n
Current Army Supply Chain System <\/strong><\/p>\n Military equipment is often extremely expensive and not replaced for decades. On the flip side, it must always be ready for combat. As such, there exists a constant requirement to maintain and repair items as close as possible to the battle \u2013 generating a great and unpredictable demand for repair parts wherever the Army operates. To fill this demand, the US military operates a colossal supply system with over $34Bn in goods and services acquired annually from 12,000 suppliers in the United Stated that are then shipped worldwide to over 30,000 maintenance locations [2]. Employing over 25,000 personnel, this is a complex, hierarchical, and linear system which requires the generation of excess buffer stock to limit stockouts in volatile and uncertain environments [3]. When stockouts do occur, manufacturers back in the US are required to build parts on demand which are then shipped to Army units around the world \u2013 creating significant cost and lead-time variability [4].<\/p>\n The Promise of Additive Manufacturing<\/strong><\/p>\n As mentioned above, additive manufacturing promises to revolutionize the Army\u2019s supply system, allowing repair parts and other equipment to be manufacture in situ on the battlefield [5] on-demand. By moving the manufacture of spare parts as close as possible to the point of need, 3D printing on the battlefield \u201csignificantly improves the ability to respond to demand variability by enabling the on-demand manufacture of a needed part, and in doing so minimizes the need to carry excess finished goods inventory.\u201d [4] Thus, not only will the advent of additive manufacturing reduce costs and the Army\u2019s logistics burden but will also simplify the process of repairing or producing spare parts, allowing the Army to make critical gains in readiness [6]. Given that additive manufacturing could allow much resupply work to take place digitally, it also has the potential to reduce the number of logistics convoys employed. Given that these convoys often come under attack and are one of the Army\u2019s most deadly activities [7], additive manufacturing could have the added benefit of saving lives.<\/p>\n The Army\u2019s Response<\/strong><\/p>\n Weighed down by a host of legal requirements, the Army\u2019s new technology research, acquisition, and implementation process is typically slow and unwieldy [8]. However, given the vast gains in effectiveness possible with additive manufacturing, the Army has been quick to move forward with industry on several fronts [6].<\/p>\n In the short term, the Army is moving to further test and implement several pilot projects aimed at better understanding the impact of additive manufacturing. The Army\u2019s RFAB system will further be rolled out for use in the field at key events, a process that started with the Pacific Pathways major training event in mid-2018 [9]. Additionally, the Army is exploring mobile building technologies and has developed a mobile laboratory being used in Afghanistan that rapidly prototypes and builds new equipment at the point of need [10].<\/p>\n In the longer term, the Army is integrating its efforts in additive manufacturing with the wider Department of Defense acquisition process, which has recently developed a roadmap setting the strategic direction and next steps required to create a robust additive manufacturing ecosystem [6]<\/p>\n Going Forward: Recommendations and Strategic Questions <\/strong><\/p>\n Given the cost-savings inherent in a supply chain that utilizes additive manufacturing, organizations across the DoD are independently building capabilities in this area, creating waste, duplication of efforts, and increasing development costs [4]. While already mentioned by a Deloitte University report on this topic, it\u2019s worth repeating a recommendation for a singular head of additive manufacturing to be named at the DoD level \u2013 allowing strategic guidance and cost-parameters to flow from the Pentagon. Additionally, I recommend that the Army undertake a comprehensive study to understand and quantify the cost-savings and supply chain transformations associated with additive manufacturing. In this way, the Army could answer the question of how beneficial additive manufacturing would be \u2013 weighing the costs associated with purchasing many thousands of printers with the current system.<\/p>\n Going forward, there are two, more general, questions that the Army must answer as it rolls out additive manufacturing technologies and sets its strategic priorities in the years to come:<\/p>\n (799 words)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [1] United States Department of Defense, Operation and Maintenance Overview Budget Estimates Fiscal Year 2018<\/em>, accessed November 2018.<\/p>\n [2] United States Department of Defense, Defense Logistics Agency, Strategic Plan 2018-2026, <\/em>accessed November 2018.<\/p>\n [3] COL Scott Haraburda. \u201cTransforming military support processes from logistics to supply chain management.\u201d US Army, February 29, 2016.<\/p>\n [4] Matthew Louis, Tom Seymour, Jim Joyce, \u201c3D opportunity in the DoD,\u201d Deloitte University Press, https:\/\/www2.deloitte.com\/content\/dam\/insights\/us\/articles\/additive-manufacturing-defense-3d-printing\/DUP_1064-3D-Opportunity-DoD_MASTER1.pdf, \u00a0accessed November 2018<\/a><\/p>\n [5] Shawn Brimley, Ben Fitzgerald, Kelley Sayler, \u201cGame Changers \u2013 Disruptive Technology and US Defense Strategy,\u201d Center for a New American Security, https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/files.cnas.org\/documents\/CNAS_Gamechangers_BrimleyFitzGeraldSayler.pdf?mtime=20160906081305<\/a>, accessed November 2018<\/p>\n [6] \u201cAdditive Manufacturing\u201d US Army Research, Development, and Engineering Command press release, August 8, 2017.<\/p>\n [7] MAJ Damian Green, \u201cThe Future of Ground Logistics: Convoys in the Department of Defense\u201d (MA, diss, School of Advanced Military Studies, 2011)<\/p>\n [8] Government Accountability Office, \u201cDefense Acquisition Process,\u201d Report GAO-15-469, June 2015.<\/p>\n [9] C. Todd Lopez, \u201c3-D printed grenade launcher only tip of future manufacturing possibilities for Army.\u201d US Army, May 19, 2017.<\/p>\n\n