News

Supply chain grads learn problem solving during immersion training

  • Published
  • By Wayne Crenshaw
  • 78th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  Every day, hundreds of people in the 638th Supply Chain Management Group toil away in their cubicles to make sure that vital aircraft parts are available to warfighters around the world.

But over the past four years they have had the opportunity to leave "Cubeville" behind for a few weeks and learn more about how they fit into the big picture of national defense.

Purchasing and supply chain management immersion training began in 2005 as a way to introduce supply chain managers to new methods aimed at improving efficiency and reducing costs. The training began as a nine-week class but eventually became a six-week class, said Patricia Martin, 638th SCMG director.

It also became something bigger than learning new processes. The training taught the students larger concepts such as teamwork, disciplined problem solving and how their jobs fit into the Air Force mission.

"They really came out of there reenergized and motivated," Ms. Martin said. "The message they got continuously throughout the training is that their job is very important."

It was a major training initiative and investment by the Air Force that included hiring contractors to fill in for those who were away for training. The training was done at a location off base, and those involved could not come into the office or be contacted about work. That was to make sure they were able to fully focus on the training, Ms. Martin said.
Three classes were held at a time with 25 people in each class. The final class graduated Aug. 11. A total of 1,129 people graduated from the program over four years.

"This is just the beginning," Ms. Martin said. "It was the first step in the beginning of a vision to give our people the knowledge and the tools they need to become truly professional supply chain managers. Because our jobs are critical to the mission that we serve in terms of the overall support of the war, I think it's way past due that we are recognizing supply chain managers."

The 638th SCMG manages repairable aircraft components that are common to all aircraft in the Air Force inventory, plus it manages parts that are unique to the aircraft managed at Robins. Members of the group ensure that those parts are available to users around the world.

Phil Ferguson, Workforce Development Office chief, called the immersion training the most extensive employee training he has seen in his 33 years of experience. He said the students did far more than sit in a classroom listening to experts. They visited the flightline, including the 116th Air Control Wing, to talk to the people who depend on them to provide the parts. 

"Now they know why it's so important to get that part there," he said. "They get a much better understanding of their part of the big picture."

They also visited the Kohl's Distribution Center in Macon, which Mr. Ferguson said performs a task that is very similar to the 638th, only with different items.

They also visited Boeing, and engaged in team building and problem-solving exercises.

"It causes people to think," he said. "It causes people to work together as a team. It encourages the mutual respect of one team member for another. When they leave, they realize we are all part of this team and they respect one another and realize the limitations other members of the team have."

Sheila Taylor, a supply technician in the 638th, was in the last graduating class. She handles purchase requests for a variety of items.

"It gave me a greater impression of what supply chain management was about," she said. "It really brought point A and point B together."