More on defense logistics.

• Author: Souder, Paul
• Position: Letter to the editor

I have worked the Army logistics problems at all levels for the past 35 years. I have worked with their logistics information systems and databases during this time.

After reading your article (Digital Age Logistics Systems Still No Panacea for Troops, page 16), I said to myself nothing seems to change. Thirty years ago, field staff were playing the logistics systems to continue to reorder spare parts to ensure sufficient supply just in case they needed the item. Asset visibility was a priority need then, as it is today. Whenever a war broke out, the Army went to a "push system" for supplying parts, rather than relying on the existing peacetime systems.

The Army's logistics system is a huge operation. It buys and supplies over one million items for worldwide distribution, on an as needed basis. Budget cuts, new ideas, and new information systems don't seem to solve the problem. Beware of the trap to try to build one system that serves...