The Manufacturing Council’s mission includes operating as a clearinghouse to support program management for major purchasing and new program decisions. Council members provide leadership to the UDLP material acquisition and component manufacturing strategies, jointly address specific workload troughs and under utilized, specialized capabilities, and make UDLP’s major capital equipment acquisition decision recommendations. The Council functions as an informal source of mentoring and manufacturing initiatives across the ASDs, supports and coordinates key manufacturing initiatives for consistency, and addresses UDLP’s common manufacturing, marketing, and performance issues. The Council members also offer sharing and coaching support in leading change and joint development of solutions to common manufacturing related problems.

UDLP ASD Aberdeen developed and implemented common quality requirements and revised its make/buy policy to consider in-house fabrication as an alternative. The clearinghouse process identifies strategic parts, and sources them in appropriate UDLP-wide sourcing agreements (e.g., flat rolled products, hardware, fasteners and computers). UDLP ASD Aberdeen realized a 7% decrease in hardware costs for its products. Business processes were standardized for its Procurement Standard Practices and Material Management and Accounting System, and improvement in its IBS process continues.

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