A Kokoda Foundation report, in collaboration with RubiKon Group and Accenture, has found that by placing a greater emphasis on the Defence Logistics Function, Defence will be better positioned to meet the challenges of a more complex and challenging operating environment in the future.
The report entitled: “Australian Defence Logistics: The Need to Enable and Equip Logistics Transformation” says that logistics does not enjoy the same visibility or priority as do the military platforms and equipment that it supports.
Additional concerns include logistics information management and the need for increased coherency within the logistics business architecture.
The report explored Defence logistics challenges by posing six questions:
- What is Defence Logistics?
- What does Defence Logistics do?
- What is the current state of Defence Logistics?
- What are the future challenges for Defence Logistics?
- What can Defence learn from Industry / other organisations?
- What can be done to improve Defence Logistics?
The answers to these questions were sourced from a range of Defence and Industry logistics and supply chain experts.
The report makes a series of recommendations including the need for Defence to appoint a Joint Capability Manager as well as “logistics champions” to review its logistics strategy and provide the level of resources necessary to perform critical tasks in increasingly complex and challenging operating environments.
To more effectively support Defence Force Operations in the future, Defence logistics systems need to be transformed, particularly through the correct assignment of authority and the re-prioritisation of existing resources.
Any delay in enabling and equipping Defence’s logistics system will potentially have implications for both the current force’s ability to efficiently operate in the field, and for the Defence organisation’s ability to properly exploit the capabilities of soon to be acquired platforms such as the Joint Strike Fighter and the large amphibious ships.
The report found that the importance of obtaining the right priority and support for the transformation of Defence Logistics as a whole cannot be overstated and that there is a clear opportunity for Defence to increase investment in its current logistics systems to mitigate potential risks.
More information and a copy of the report can be found here: www.kokodafoundation.org