Okinawa DC Receives First Shipment on New Exchange-USTRANSCOM High-Tech System
Left to right, Kiyoshi Gushiken, Exchange accountant; Hiroko Tomiyasu and Junko Kyan, Exchange administrative specialists; Jonah Thomas, Exchange Pacific Region fleet manager; Stephen Hendren, USTRANSCOM logistics management specialist; Mutsuki Ogawa, Exchange administrative specialist; David Murch, Telesto architect; and Ikuko Thomas, Exchange voucher examiner, give the Pacific salute at the Okinawa DC.
As U.S. Transportation Command and the Exchange partner in testing an overseas transportation management system (TMS), the Okinawa Distribution Center welcomed officials from USTRANSCOM and TMS integrator Telesto for an up-close look at the operations.
USTRANSCOM is conducting a 24-month assessment of the TMS prototype on behalf of the Department of Defense, with the Exchange being the system’s first user. Telesto has been a vital partner in providing the technology and processes needed.
The Exchange and USTRANSCOM launched the prototype this year, testing shipments to Hawaii. Recently, the TMS was expanded to include shipments to Japan.
USTRANSCOM Logistics Management Specialist Stephen Hendren, Telesto Architect David Murch and Exchange Pacific Regional Fleet Manager Jonah Thomas traveled to Okinawa to receive the very first shipments that were ordered with the new TMS.
“We’re excited to have USTRANSCOM representatives here for the receiving side of the process,” said Nick Devincenzo, Exchange Pacific Region distribution center manager. “The arrival of these shipments is the culmination of months of planning and hard work.”
A group from USTRANSCOM and Telesto visited Okinawa in August to train distribution center associates on the TMS before its expansion to Japan. Hendren and Murch trained more associates during this visit.
“Every step of this process has provided us with invaluable information,” Hendren said. “Having a great relationship with the Exchange team has made both the implementation and expansion of the TMS go smoothly. We’re already looking forward to expanding the TMS to even more overseas locations.”
The goal of a TMS is to provide DoD with increased visibility, booking, shipping and tracking cargo in a single system.
For the Exchange, the new TMS could drastically reduce the time needed to book shipments, as well as cut supply chain costs, which is one of the organization’s strategic priorities for the year.
At the end of the assessment period, USTRANSCOM will decide whether to move forward with implementing the TMS throughout Department of Defense entities.
