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52 <a href="http://www.mca-marines.org/gazette">www.mca-marines.org/gazette</a> M a r i n e C o r p s G a z e t t e • M a y 2 0 0 9 IDEAS & ISSUES (LOGISTICS) and concepts for a collaborative Navy- Marine Corps effort on eventual OIF/ OEF equipment retrograde and reset as well as long-term maintenance require- ments for master work schedule plan- ning. Several pilot projects involving maintenance of NECC equipment have already been executed at Marine Corps maintenance centers to include HMMWV rebuild; design, installa- tion, and procedural training for instal- lation of armor kits on Navy 7-ton trucks, HMMWVs, and construction equipment; and vehicle modifications, painting, and rebuild in support of multiple NECC requirements. Expeditionary maintenance. Navy and Marine Corps Operating Forces, along with key logistics providers, lack an integrated construct for organiza- tional and field-level maintenance of expeditionary force equipment. Cur- rent maintenance systems and pro- cesses possess gaps that contribute to the loss of maintenance data/visibility and degraded maintenance capabilities. Consequently, NECC and HQMC (Code LPC) maintenance champions are exploring opportunities to leverage common maintenance processes and systems in order to streamline the maintenance cycle, resulting in synergy and unity of effort among the Services that will optimize resource efficiencies and combat effectiveness. In early No- vember 2008 subject matter experts (SMEs) from the NECC, Navy Expe- ditionary Logistics Support Group, and NFELC visited II Marine Expedi- tionary Force units at Camp Lejeune to examine the processes, people, and technologies construct associated with Marine Corps organizational and inter- mediate levels of maintenance manage- ment. In addition to numerous brief- ings, the SMEs toured 2d Maintenance Battalion and 2d Tank Battalion facili- ties to observe work in progress. At the conclusion of the visit there was con- sensus that wargaming could provide a good vehicle to discipline additional exploration of integrating maintenance efforts. The visit parlayed a common understanding of Marine air-ground task force capability for ground equip- ment maintenance and set the stage for a reciprocal visit by Marines to observe Navy expeditionary maintenance capa- bilities. Project Methodology These four focus areas for 2009 are being closely monitored by the NLI governance to ensure continuous progress. A common Six Sigma meth- We need rapid and reliable sustainment of Class VIII to expeditionary forces. (Photo by LCpl Christopher O’Quin.) Current maintenance systems and processes possess gaps. . . .
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www.mca-marines.org/gazette