Mapping the Afloat Medical Materiel Supply Chain: Procurement and Transshipment in the U.S. Navy

Abstract

This study examined factors contributing to extended lead times in the U.S. Navy’s Class VIII(a) medical materiel supply chain and identified opportunities to improve logistics responsiveness for afloat units operating under Pacific Fleet (PACFLT). A comprehensive process map was developed using qualitative data from stakeholder interviews, direct observations during a site visit to Defense Distribution Norfolk, Virginia (DDNV), and document review. Quantitative data were analyzed to assess transshipment throughput, backlog behavior, capacity utilization, and the effects of demand variability. Comparative analysis showed that electronic catalogue (ECAT) ordering reduced procurement lead times by an average of 53.5 days relative to Military Standard Requisitioning and Issue Procedures (MILSTRIP), accounting for up to 72 percent of total supply chain duration for CONUS units and 65 percent for OCONUS units. Modeling indicated that increasing staffing to 10 processor full-time equivalents would reduce average processing time from 7 to 1.7 days, decreasing backlog and overtime. Conversely, establishing a second transshipment center would increase total backlog, reduce efficiency, and raise manpower costs. Findings suggest that aligning authorized medical allowance list (AMAL) assemblages with e-commerce contracting would increase transshipment capacity, and defining fleet performance standards would improve Class VIII(a) logistics readiness.