DLA - Workforce Productivity Innovation Effort
Challenge ended
Description
Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Energy is responsible for providing globally resilient energy solutions to the warfighter and whole of government. DLA Energy has about 1100 civilian and military employees headquartered at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, with regional support locations worldwide. It is responsible for end-to-end energy Integrated Material Management, spanning procurement, transportation, storage, distribution, ownership, accountability, budgeting, quality assurance and surveillance and infrastructure sustainment, restoration and modernization efforts.
Overall Objective
DLA Energy Workforce Productivity Efforts are: • Develop detailed design and impact quantification for 4-5 prototypes prioritized to close the workload gap based on internal data sets, market intelligence and relevant benchmarks and expert input, to include material needed for rapid deployment, testing and value capture of solution • Create a playbook for ongoing data-backed approach to evaluating and addressing gaps in the workforce, to include supply and demand models with training: rapid, agile prototype identification, sizing and implementation and ongoing performance management to ensure sustainability of changes. • Design and pilot more effective and efficient use cases based on automation / AI principles to increase workforce productivity / quality of output, with accompanying automation approach playbook for additional use cases.
Problem Statement
A recent DLA Energy assessment revealed a critical workforce gap. By 2028, workload demand is projected to exceed workforce supply by 20%, potentially overwhelming employees and jeopardizing mission outcomes, such as fuel availability for DoD customers. This gap is driven by anticipated increases in bulk petroleum procurements, operational demands (e.g., military exercises), and audit obligations. Contingency planning indicates that a conflict or force reduction scenario could significantly exacerbate this supply-demand imbalance. To address this critical supply-demand gap, DLA Energy is pursuing innovative and integrated interventions, leveraging commercial best practices and strategies from the military. The goal is to ensure the right talent is in place to fulfill DLA Energy's evolving mission and support the national defense posture transition from competition to conflict