Enclosure (1) to COMDTINST 4000.5A
VII.
What are the keys to success? The size and complexity of Coast Guard
logistics makes it difficult to achieve and maintain the desired end-states.
Drawing on past Coast Guard experience and lessons from other successful
organizations, Coast Guard logistics must succeed in the following areas to
reach and maintain the desired end-states:
A. Focus on the operating unit. As we perform our daily duties, it can be
easy to lose sight of our objective - provide the right capabilities (people,
infrastructure, and information) at the right place and time to Coast Guard
operating units. As we perform our work, we should constantly think of how
our actions affect Coast Guard operating units. To understand the potential
impact of our actions, we must know what operating units do and how they
do it. We need to be responsive to their needs, yet minimize the burden we
place on them through data calls, inspections, and reports.
and teamwork among logistics support, operations support, and operating
units are paramount to success. Internally, the entire logistics organization
needs to work toward common goals and objectives, and each element must
be aware of what other logistics elements are doing.
C. Feedback and measurement to improve results. Logistics is the business
activity of the Coast Guard in support of its missions. To manage this
business properly and be effective stewards of the tax dollars we receive, we
need to make fact-based decisions. Most of the factual information we need
can only be gathered by measurement. We need to measure the cost of
what we produce, the performance of our products in the field (unit
readiness), and the cycle times of our processes. The feedback we receive
from measurements must be used to improve our products and the
processes that produce those products.
D. Information technology. To make the right decisions, Coast Guard
logisticians must have the right information. We must have ready access to
appropriate data, employ analytical tools to transform data into useful
information and apply decision support tools to use information for making
optimal decisions. Proper use of Information Technology can simplify and
improve measurement and feedback, and improve internal and external
accurate real time data is available to internal/external customers. It ensures
data integrity and authenticity, as well as non-repudiation of data, which must
be maintained per prescribed mandates and methodologies. Total
Ownership Cost (TOC) analysis is absolutely dependent on good data
provided by a properly functioning information system.
E. Ability to manage beneficial change. The future Coast Guard workplace
will be in constant flux as new technology is deployed and business
processes are continually improved. It is critical that change be properly
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