Accenture selected to design, implement supply chain management solution for U.S. Marine Corps
Washington, DC — July 6, 2005 — The U.S. Marine Corps has selected the global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company Accenture to design and implement its new global supply chain and maintenance system.
The new system is part of the Global Combat Support System-Marine Corps
(GCSS-MC) program, and is designed to modernize the Marine Corps' logistics, supply chain planning, procurement and maintenance service capabilities. The GCSS-MC should also improve the tracking, transport and distribution of supplies from support units to Marine Corps forces around the world.
The first phase of Accenture's work, which includes planning and analyzing the GCSS-MC solution, will be executed under a six-month, $4.5 million contract.
The global supply and maintenance system, to be based on Oracle's E-Business Suite applications, is intended to deliver a logistics capability that integrates with many existing Marine Corps and Department of Defense applications.
The GCSS-MC is Logistics Modernization's technology centerpiece, said Lieutenant General Richard L. Kelly, deputy commandant, Installations and Logistics, United States Marine Corps. Instead of today's requirement to learn and use multiple systems depending on the logistics need, this Web-based system will provide Marines a single point of entry to access all logistics data. It will give them both global and cross-battlefield visibility and integration of information, resulting in greater operational flexibility.
The GCSS-MC program is expected to deliver a number of new benefits to the U.S. Marine Corps, including a Web-based, collaborative logistics system that will integrate disparate functions and offer interoperability with other Department of Defense organizations; worldwide access by Marine Corps personnel to supply chain and maintenance information; proactive management of inventory and services; reduced wait times for supplies and services for all Marines; and reduced training time.
The Marine Corps has carefully planned for its next logistics solution, utilizing practices and lessons learned from recent operations to determine the detailed functional and technical requirements for GCSS-MC, said Eric Stange, managing partner of Accenture's Defense and Homeland Security practice. Accenture is proud to help the Marine Corps achieve the logistics modernization goals that are so critical to its combat mission.
