Analysis, Identification, and Eradication of Mold Development in the Substance (Rations) Supply Chain

DLA Subsistence Supply Chain (SSC) experiences mold growth on wood pallets used for transportation of MRE. We propose a mold growth analysis and mitigation methodology based on supply chain, microbial monitoring and statistical techniques. The supply chain is modeled as a network of storage, production nodes and transportation links. A data collection procedure is developed to gather data related to mold growth factors at each point in the supply chain. Statistical and data mining techniques identify the root cause of mold development. An optimization model is developed to identify the subset of solutions which maximize cost-benefit in the mold mitigation process. A feasibility study is proposed in Phase I. It will show that the supply chain methodology can identify critical factors for mold development in a single route of the SSC. Conceptual design of the methodology will be completed in this phase. The feasibility study will be followed by Phase II, in which the methodology will be validated for multiple routes of the SSC. The proposed work sets the foundation for wide implementation of supply chain-based mold mitigation strategies. The potential market of this work includes a majority of supply chains given the prevalence of wood pallet usage.