Page 72 - South Mississippi Living - July, 2022

SEABEES 80TH
EFFICIENCY IS STANDARD
Navy Looks to Industry Standards for Best Practices
story by Ryan Labadens, NCBC Public Affairs photos courtesy of NCBC
The Navy is always looking for new and innovative ways of operating, whether it’s at sea or on dry land.
Recently, the Navy has been looking to private industry standards to see how they can more efficiently utilize 1,100 existing storage warehouses available.
On May 4, 2022, Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) Fleet Logistics Center Jacksonville (FLCJ), Florida and Amazon Web Services (AWS) representatives visited the warehouse
and supply facilities onboard Naval Construction Battalion Center (NCBC) Gulfport. This was part of their efforts toward modernizing the Navy’s supply processing so it can become even more effective at supplying its forces around the globe.
According to Kevin Mooney, Executive Director of NAVSUP FLCJ, Florida, Rear Admiral Peter Stamatopoulos, Commander, NAVSUP/Chief of Supply Corps had the idea to seek outside consultation.
“AWS under contract to NAVSUP facilitates a potential partnership to provide advice to best operate our warehouses. They’re starting here because of the age and capacity of this facility,” said Mooney. Several of the warehouses onboard NCBC Gulfport are newer due to recovery efforts following Hurricane Katrina.
Rodney Duggins, site director for NAVSUP FLCJ Gulfport and
NCBC supply officer, says the warehouses operated in Gulfport have long been held up as models of efficient management. “People who come through our facilities have admired our warehouses. They’re great facilities, and we’re proud of that,” said Duggins.
“The overall importance is to optimize the use of the warehouse space across all Navy installations,” said Mooney. “Currently, we have a customer providing support to the Seabees – but that only consumes 35 percent of the warehouse. So, if there’s 65 percent capacity available to us, how can the Navy best utilize that? We need to find the customer base that needs that warehouse space, utilize it properly with the help
of Amazon, and fold those practices into Navy warehouse management.”
“We welcome the opportunity to meet with new partners, pursue innovation, and do things more efficiently. It’s a great opportunity to showcase our capabilities and to learn best practices so we can improve how the Navy operates,” said Captain Jeff Powell, NCBC Gulfport commanding officer.
The NAVSUP strategy is to use Amazon’s knowledge in both warehouse management and warehousing systems support and apply those principles service-wide to help the Navy better utilize its material management.
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