AI for DLA DIstribution Center Warehouses

DLA is looking to explore how AI can improve performance, capabilities, and visibility in order to improve overall support of the warfighter across the globe. As supply chains get stressed, and the configuration of the supply chains continues to grow more complex, DLA is challenged in ensuring it can maintain its support of units. Further, making progress in the optimization, performance, accuracy and visibility of individual warehouses and across the Supply Center complexes is an ongoing and evolutionary effort. The use of AI/ML, automation, robotics, and IoT to address these challenges is not without cost, risk, and potential secondary effects unless supported by experienced, capable partners who have explored these complex technologies. CSI explores six pilot and exploratory efforts to investigate the application of AI technologies, individually or in combination, to advance DLA’s efforts. These scenario-driven concepts that can explore and demonstrate elements of that vision. All of the concepts presented in this proposal are adopted from, extended from, or otherwise leveraging previously demonstrated Cougaar Software, Inc. (CSI) pilot and prototype capabilities – providing a substantial foundation that reduces development time and project risk. CSI explores scenario concepts leveraging similar applications of AI/ML, IoT, Robotics, and others from the Distribution & Retrograde APEX Management (DRAM) theater distribution planning and execution, Class V Adaptive Demand Estimation (CADES) theater supply analysis, planning and projection, Industrial Based Analysis Methods (IBAM) supply chain risk assessment system, Cognitive Automated Supply Point Enhanced Robotics (CASPER) supervisory control of autonomous systems, and Configured Load Build Tool (CLBT) load planning tool. These systems provide examples of capability and serve as a foundation to leverage for building comparable DLA-specific capabilities.