AFRL Enhances Diminishing Manufacturing Sources Analysis

  • Published
  • By Materials & Manufacturing Directorate
  • AFRL/ML
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  The AFRL-managed Air Force Materiel Command Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortages (DMSMS) program office recently demonstrated the Web-based Air Force Module's (AFM) value in linking the service to the Diminishing Manufacturing Sources (DMS) Shared Data Warehouse (SDW). The DMS SDW initiative focuses on improving sustainability and cost efficiency across all Air Force (AF)--and potentially all Department of Defense (DoD)--weapon systems. 

The AFM enhances oversight and tracking, expedites case processing, and simplifies AF DMS trend analysis reporting. These capabilities not only improve DMSMS management processes, but also contribute to the long-term DMS SDW vision of consolidating all DoD data sources to better manage issues of obsolescence. The AFM, officially the D400, is part of the Office of the Secretary of Defense-sponsored, DoD-wide SDW effort, which includes stakeholders from the Army, Navy, AF, Government-Industry Data Exchange Program, and Defense Logistics Agency (DLA). Since the AFM's implementation, on-time response has increased from 8% to 64%, nonresponse has dropped from 46% to 12%, and average response time has decreased from 127 to 25 days. 

The AFM is a Web-based application developed to automate standard AF DMSMS discontinuance notification, case management, and case response practices. It maintains online case history data dating back to fiscal year 2000 and generates standard reports for use at all levels. 

Accessible to all program managers, systems engineers, item managers, and equipment specialists with AF DMSMS management responsibility, the AFM enables distribution of case information to every DMSMS-impacted weapons system in the AF inventory in less than 24 hours. The system currently receives and sends case information electronically to the DLA. Upon receipt of a new case, the system automatically queries the AF's D200F database. This application creates worksheets and sends e-mail notifications to program managers, item managers, and equipment specialists impacted by the discontinuance. 

Sharing the AFM source code with the Navy accelerated development of the Navy's DMS SDW module. The common core application allows both services to collaborate on joint development and share independent improvements, while maximizing the use of limited resources and meeting the specific needs of each service.
AFRL Enhances Diminishing MaManufafacturing Sources Analalysis