Read Online

Leveraging Complementary Distribution Channels for an Effective, Efficient Global Supply Chain

by Eric Peltz, Marc Robbins

Download

Download eBook for Free

Full Document

FormatFile SizeNotes
PDF file 0.4 MB

Use Adobe Acrobat Reader version 10 or higher for the best experience.

Summary Only

FormatFile SizeNotes
PDF file 0.1 MB

Use Adobe Acrobat Reader version 10 or higher for the best experience.

Purchase

Purchase Print Copy

 FormatList Price Price
Add to Cart Paperback70 pages $20.00 $16.00 20% Web Discount

DoD makes use of five different distribution channels to sustain U.S. military forces overseas. Three are air delivery channels and two are by sea. These channels offer varying speeds of delivery and have different costs. In addition to these variables, there are certain practical constraints that must be taken into account in making choices among channels, and for surface transportation, the marginal cost of additional inventory must also be considered. In this briefing, we analyze the implications of all these factors for how the channels should be used — which transportation modes should be chosen and where materiel should be stocked — to provide effective support as efficiently as possible. We describe the distribution choices for some illustrative units in Iraq and compare them with the ideal model resulting from our analysis. We find that, through gradual evolution, the sustainment structure for Iraq is beginning to match the model. We offer several guidelines for improving sustainment in the near term by bringing current practices closer to the ideal.

Table of Contents

  • Chapter One

    Leveraging Complementary Distribution Channels

  • Chapter Two

    Major Distribution Channels

  • Chapter Three

    Capability and Cost Tradeoffs

  • Chapter Four

    Ideal Distribution Channel Roles

  • Chapter Five

    Current Support Structure Design: A Unit View

  • Chapter Six

    Routes to Improvement: Unit View

  • Chapter Seven

    Current Support Structure Design: An Item View

  • Chapter Eight

    Improvements and Future Needs

Research conducted by

The research described in this report was sponsored by the United States Army and conducted by the RAND Arroyo Center.

This report is part of the RAND Corporation Documented briefing series. RAND documented briefings are based on research presented to a client, sponsor, or targeted audience in briefing format. Additional information is provided in the documented briefing in the form of the written narration accompanying the briefing charts. All RAND documented briefings undergo rigorous peer review to ensure that they meet high standards for research quality and objectivity. However, they are not expected to be comprehensive and may present preliminary findings. Major research findings are published in the monograph series; supporting or preliminary research is published in the technical report series.

This document and trademark(s) contained herein are protected by law. This representation of RAND intellectual property is provided for noncommercial use only. Unauthorized posting of this publication online is prohibited; linking directly to this product page is encouraged. Permission is required from RAND to reproduce, or reuse in another form, any of its research documents for commercial purposes. For information on reprint and reuse permissions, please visit www.rand.org/pubs/permissions.

The RAND Corporation is a nonprofit institution that helps improve policy and decisionmaking through research and analysis. RAND's publications do not necessarily reflect the opinions of its research clients and sponsors.