A Case Study of the Degree of Collaboration Between Various Levels in the Reparable Chain in the United States Air Force

Collaborative Planning, Forecasting, and Replenishment and other logistics processes were developed in the commercial sector to reduce total system costs of production while simultaneously providing reduction in inventory levels, improved customer service levels, greater flexibility in scheduling, greater velocity of inventory through the pipeline, and, as a result, greater profitability (Ploos van Amstel, 1990:1). Many companies including Wal*Mart, Motorola, Target, Johnson and Johnson, and Kellogg's, just to name a few, have seen great achievements since implementing CPFR processes. Can these processes be applied to the Air Force supply chain? This thesis intends to examine the flows and relationships to identify opportunities Air Combat Command Regional Supply Squadron (ACCRSS), Depot Repair Facilities, and Operational Bases. This research will use a case study approach to address the research and investigative questions. Air Force supply chain management has many responsibilities that must be accomplished. This thesis will seek to look at many of the variables but does not promise to cover all aspects or attempt to provide the ultimate solution. It will merely present the literature reviewed and the data collected and try to draw a conclusion as to whether civilian CPFR techniques can be applied to current Air Force supply chain practices.