Automating the Navy's Provision and Material Transfer System

"Foster-Miller proposes to develop a plan to automate a portion of the Navy's existing provision and material transfer system. Current methodologies used in material and provision transfer onto and within Navy ships are manpower intensive, sometimes unsafe,and don't utilize the more modern equipment and automation processes found in private industry. Furthermore, the readiness of the Navy is diminished through an inefficient flow of material and provisions through the system. Total asset visibility,through an automated information system, is the enabling technology for an automated PTS. Foster-Miller will explore current DOD and private sector initiatives to develop wireless asset tracking methods. A high-level automation solution will be developedin Phase I that will utilize a state-of-the-art wireless asset tracking system. Simulation modeling will be utilized as a tool for optimizing material flow and processes within the proposed PTS solution. This system will be the basis for a laboratoryprototype to be built and demonstrated in a Phase II program. (P-020166) Automation of the Navy's provision and material transfer system will reduce the highly intensive manpower operations currently in place, improve safety, improve planning and logistics, utilize space more efficiently, reduce signature impacts, reduceoutfitting requirements, and improve overall readiness. Potential opportunities exist for utilizing asset identification