Army Corps of Engineers Logistics Activity
The Client: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Logistics Activity (ULA) engaged our team to conduct a comprehensive business evaluation of its overseas logistics operations. The project focused on assessing the feasibility of integrating logistical activities from key international sites—Japan Engineering District (Camp Zama, Japan), Far East Engineering District (Seoul, Korea), and Europe District (Wiesbaden, Germany)—into the ULA’s established High Performing Organization (HPO) framework. The ULA’s HPO model emphasizes centralized, standardized logistics management to enhance efficiency across USACE operations. This two-phased initiative aimed to determine whether these overseas functions could align with the ULA’s centralized approach without compromising mission effectiveness, ultimately supporting seamless global logistics integration.
Challenges
Following the successful implementation of its HPO model for domestic operations, the ULA faced requests to expand its scope to include overseas logistics activities previously excluded from the original analysis. These sites, located in the Pacific Ocean Division (POD) and North Atlantic Division (NAD), operated under unique geopolitical, regulatory, and operational constraints that might not readily fit the ULA’s standardized, centralized processes. Key challenges included scoping diverse logistics functions across international locations, managing constraints for cooperation amongst multiple international locations, developing a viable integration strategy, and ensuring no degradation in mission-critical support during potential transitions.
Solutions Delivered
NOVACES developed a detailed plan using our proprietary SystemVSA approach to analyzing the value streams of an organization, outlining methodologies to evaluate overseas logistics activities, including scoping of transferable functions. The team modeled functional value streams including Transportation, Facility Management, Plans & Operations, Administration, and Resource Integration of each site. After mapping key processes of the overseas logistics operations, we utilized data, insights, and benchmarking to recommend integration strategies by location and function, minimizing any potential for disruptions. Our approach leveraged references from prior ULA and HPO evaluations, delivering actionable insights for efficient review and implementation by ULA leaders.
Key Takeaways
NOVACES provided critical research and insights that enabled state and local leaders to make data-driven recovery and development decisions. Our efforts helped:
This project underscored the value of structured, phased evaluations in adapting centralized models to challenging global operational environments, enabling informed decision-making for large-scale organizational expansions.
By prioritizing detailed planning and on-site analysis, ULA was able to mitigate risks associated with international integrations, ensuring sustained operational excellence.