christopher Harper, Author at DJ Products

Understanding the Big Dollars Involved: How the Military Uses Its Budget

When people talk about military spending, the conversation often revolves around an expensive new fighter jet or futuristic technology. Often, those investments total billions of dollars at a time. But how does the sizable U.S. military budget really break down?

Business Insider has demystified military spending with a series of simple infographics about the 2015 budget. It’s an interesting read and you may be surprised at how money gets spread across each branch of service, and among different purposes.

Notable highlights of the budget analysis include:

The base budget comprises 80% of spending. This includes equipment and operations. Overseas contingencies and growth initiatives make up much of the rest.

Out of the $496 base budget, about half pays for personnel and operations. About 13% goes toward R&D.

The Navy takes the lion’s share of the budget, followed by the Air Force. These branches also spend the largest amounts on big-ticket investments such as the $8.3 billion F-35 fighter jet and the $6.3 billion SSN 774 Virginia submarine.

On one hand, it’s true that the military spends the vast majority of its money on day-to-day operations. On the other hand, a single fighter plane cost almost 2% of the annual budget.

Military spending receives special scrutiny, and everyone can appreciate smart steps to improve the efficiency of operations.

DJ Products offers GSA-approved industrial tugs for DOD use. From aircraft tugs to equipment cart movers and beyond, our industrial tugs make it easy for military staff to maneuver and relocate equipment and vehicles with speed and efficiency.

Oshkosh Shakes Up Military Contracting by Winning Humvee Replacement Contract

As the U.S. Army looks to replace a well-traveled fleet of Humvees, the DOD has awarded a $6.75 billion contract to Oshkosh Corp. The agreement calls for the Wisconsin-based manufacturer to produce 16,901 light trucks.

Losing out on the bid were Lockheed Martin and AM General, the latter of which makes Humvees. Lockheed Martin has filed an official protest of the bid, requiring the government to review the selection process. Oshkosh will most likely prevail as the winner, but production will wait until after the protest has been resolved.

The Future of Army Light Trucks

The Joint Light Tactical Vehicles to be produced by Oshkosh will generally fit the mold of the familiar Humvee — light enough for aircraft transport, strong enough to resist explosions.

Oshkosh stock had fallen 20% since the start of the year, but has rebounded aggressively following news of the massive contract, which could ultimately grow to $30 billion. The DOD retains the right to switch suppliers for future production runs.

The new JLTVs are designed to keep costs down by using common parts including GM engines and Allison transmissions. The Army, which will acquire the vast majority of the JLTVs, had set a price-slashing goal to help offset recent overspending.

We keep an eye on major government spending to observe trends in equipment purchases. At DJ Products, our approved GSA industrial tuggers can be purchased by all military and DOD outfits to haul equipment and transport vehicles around bases and hangars.

For more information on GSA industrial tuggers including motorized carts, dollies, and vehicle pushers, visit DJProducts.com or contact us today.

Department of Defense Opens Combat Jobs to Women

In a historic decision last month, the Department of Defense announced that woman will no longer be excluded from any combat operations. The move applies to all branches of the U.S. military.

Secretary of Defense Ash Carter announced the decision, calling it an important and necessary step to staff the armed forces with the best talent available.

The Debate Surrounding Women in Combat Roles

Some observers and military leaders have held to the view that women should not serve in combat, for various reasons. A Marine corps report from September 2015 had bolstered this stance with the findings that, in simulated tests, females performing combat tasks were injured more frequently and fared less well at shooting accuracy. The study observed male-only and mixed-gender teams.

However, supporters of women in combat have pointed out that the male-only teams may have fared better partially because those participants were more experienced. With less training and experience, the teams that included females may have naturally produced less positive results.

Finding Ways to Strengthen the Military

Ultimately, the announcement simply means that women pass all requirements for combat roles are allowed assignment to those positions. The move should hopefully strengthen the armed forces with talent better allocated to every role.

The armed forces continue to seek ways to operate more efficiently and optimally. Tools and technology including DOD contractor material handling equipment can help in this regard. Battery-powered equipment to move vehicles and heavy items can be easily used by any service member, allowing units to accomplish tasks with fewer resources.

Contact DJ Products for more information about approved DOD contractor material handling equipment.

Defense Contractors Get Extension on Cyber Security Standards

An eleventh-hour reprieve has given Department of Defense contractors a reprieve until the end of 2017 before complying with new cyber security standards. For many firms, this defense contracting news comes as a welcome assurance that ample time will be allowed to implement new protocols.

Deadline extended: DOD contractors still face stricter security rules

The DOD heard concerns in December that the January 1, 2015 deadline would be causing undue difficulties for contractors and subcontractors. The reprieve finds a middle ground for increasing protection for sensitive, non-classified data.

Before the latest cybersecurity standards become mandatory, contractors will be required to report non-compliant elements that may affect a contract. The amended rules also stipulate that the toughest security standards will apply only to those subcontractors who are handling certain important data or whose contracts affect critical operations.

More information about the DOD cyber security rules is available from the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

The 2015 NDAA called for tougher security practices for the military and its contractors due to a growing frequency of threats and incidents involving sensitive military data. The goal is to reduce cyber attacks and also mandate reporting of potential breaches.

At DJ Products, we watch out for important defense contracting news that affects our clients. As a DOD contractor you know that staying on top of regulations is critical to maintaining DOD relationships.

As a manufacturer of GSA-approved equipment moving and material handling equipment for military applications, we report on major defense contracting news to help keep you informed. Follow our blog for regular updates on DOD news and solutions for defense contractors.

DoD Contractors In Hot Water for Poor Accounting and Invoicing

After the Department of Defense found that some transportation contractors had falsified weight tickets, Maersk Line has settled the allegations with $3.66 million in civil penalties.

Maersk’s Farrell Lines and its logistics branch, Damco, appeared to be at fault due to a poor invoicing system. It is unclear whether there was any attempt to falsify the shipment weights, as the matter was settled before going to court.

The large fines indicate the stringent standards placed on DoD contractor equipment and practices — with strict scrutiny expected even for large and established contractors.

Why the DoD Fined Two Maersk Subsidiaries

The transportation companies had been subcontracted to move DoD cargo out of Scott AFB in Illinois. As per the terms of the contract, billing was weight-based. However, the companies did not create authentic weight tickets when shipping the loads — employees had apparently written up 563 tickets after shipment.

With the DoD contractor equipment available today, automated record keeping and material handling should prevent these sorts of invoicing issues.

Maersk had previously paid a $32 million settlement for overcharges to the DoD in 2012, but has been awarded billions in contracts since.

About GSA-Approved DoD Contractor Equipment

Firms with government contracts should take advantage of modern material handling equipment to automate many processes. At DJ Products, we offer GSA-approved truck pushers, trailer caddies, the BombCaddy remote explosive trailer, and other military contractor equipment.

These devices not only make it easier to push and pull heavy equipment and vehicles, but doing so can also make it easier to streamline operations and staffing needs.

Find out more about DoD contractor equipment at DJProducts.com.

DoD Cracks Down on Employees Leaving to be Contractors

Possible conflicts of interest when Department of Defense (DOD) employees leave to work for defense contractors should be of interest to every tax payer in the country. CNS News reports, when Darleen Druyun, one of the Pentagon’s top-level acquisition officials, was offered a job by Boeing earning $250,000 a year, it clearly compromised the negotiations of a contract for a tanker project. In her role as Principal Deputy Undersecretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Druyun gave Boeing preferential consideration and agreed to a higher price for the project. She then left the DOD to accept the job at Boeing.

Problems still exist

The unethical behavior earned Druyun a $250,000 fine and nine month sentence in federal prison. It also prompted officials to add the “revolving door” provision to the National Defense Authorization Act in 2008. Audits in 2010, 2014, and March of 2016 show potential conflicts of interest remain a major concern. Among other problems with reporting, the required online database known as the After Government Employment Advice Repository (AGEAR) is lacking much necessary information to be an effective tool.

DOD contractor equipment

Civilian contractors are constantly under scrutiny and must operate as efficiently as possible. The GSA has a wide range of requirements for Military and DOD contractors.

At DJProducts, we know the requirements for DOD contractor equipment and the importance of maintaining both the safety of your employees and operational efficiency. Our BombCaddy is a remote controlled, self-propelled power trailer. It is capable of safely maneuvering heavy machines and equipment in tight spaces. Contact us today for more information on our full line of DOD contractor equipment.

Zone Picking with Electric Carts can Increase Efficiency

In order for companies to grow to meet their full potential their current procedures will most likely have to evolve. Using traditional means of picking and shipping orders and relying on outdated equipment can result in wasted time and the possibility of mistakes.

Dividing a large warehouse into a number of smaller zones based on certain product characteristics can yield huge benefits in terms of accuracy and efficiency. Order pickers who are directed to a specific storage rack that is clearly and properly labeled will have a much easier time fulfilling orders than an employee who’s got to search an entire warehouse for material.

Employees who have access to the best material handling equipment will also be able to complete specific tasks quickly and more accurately. An electric cart from DJ Products is easy to maneuver in forward and reverse at up to three miles an hour, even when fully loaded with heavy parts. This allows workers to focus on accurately picking the necessary amount or parts without having to worry about potentially struggling back to the shipping department like they would with a manual cart.

DJ Products electric cart runs on a powerful battery that can last for a full eight hour shift without needing to be recharged. Pickers won’t have to waste time in the middle of pulling a hot order to refuel or to transfer the material that they’ve already picked to a cart that is functioning. This reliability ultimately saves a great deal of time and extra effort and it helps employees to tackle the largest of orders with the utmost confidence.

If you want to keep the customers that you have and eventually be able to serve to new ones, you’ve got to make sure that your picking and shipping departments can readily handle the volume. Make sure that your warehouse is properly structured and organized to handle the volume of orders that you are doing and provide your employees with safe and reliable equipment like the electric carts from DJ Products.

Safe and Simple Carpet Installation with the Powered Carpet Dolly

Historically, a large carpeting job would be a labor intensive task that would require a number of employees to complete. Manually hauling large rolls of heavy carpet, that could weigh several hundred pounds each, would take at least two or three employees and could still result in overexertion and injury.

Even before getting to the job site, employees would have to wrestle heavy rolls of carpet across the warehouse and onto the truck. Without the proper equipment, this task could take quite a bit of time and force employees to expend quite a bit of energy.

The unique design of the powered carpet dolly takes the bulk of the heavy labor out of the job by making the transport of heavy carpet rolls a safe an easy task for a single employee to tackle. With the help of a powered carpet dolly, a single employee can now easily maneuver heavy rolls of carpet around the warehouse or the jobsite without having to ask for help or risking injury.

A powered carpet dolly can turn full installations that once required a crew of employees to handle into a one or two person job. This frees up valuable man hours and allows businesses to safely take on more work and generate more income.

Manually handling heavy materials of any kind can result in employee injury, but dealing with heavy materials that are as cumbersome and awkward to handle as carpet can increase that potential. The powered carpet dolly increases employee efficiency in the warehouse and on the job site without compromising safety. Employees will be able to complete jobs faster and with fewer issues, which will result in a happier and more productive work environment.

Ergonomics: Just What the Doctor Ordered

Pushing, pulling, lifting and carrying tasks place a greater strain on the human body’s soft tissues — muscles and tendons — than any other workplace tasks. Universal to nearly every work environment, these tasks are the source of musculoskeletal injuries that annually cost U.S. businesses tens of billions of dollars. Fortunately, most of these injuries are preventable. The debilitating and disabling strains and sprains that annually plague millions of U.S. workers can be largely prevented with the adoption of ergonomic practices and the use of ergonomically-designed equipment.

Workers come in all shapes and sizes, but work tasks and equipment are usually “one size fits all.” Most workplace musculoskeletal injuries occur when workers are forced to adapt their bodies to fit the task or equipment, torquing their bodies into awkward postures that increase stress on muscles and tendons. For example, when pushing, pulling or maneuvering a heavy wheeled cart, a worker must exert significant force to overcome rolling resistance. While handholds designed to assist in force delivery may be at the correct level for an average-sized male, even an averaged-sized female worker will have to stretch and strain to move the cart, placing undue stress on back, leg, shoulder and arm muscles. The risk of musculoskeletal injury is great when worker and equipment are not a perfect fit.

Ergonomics is the science of fitting the equipment or task to the capabilities of the worker to prevent musculoskeletal injury. Ergonomically-designed equipment, like the powered carts and movers designed and manufactured by DJ Products, takes into account a host of variables that affect worker production and efficiency. The type of task, force required, worker gender and diversity, optimal handhold height, distance, and frequency of the task must all be considered in the design of ergonomic equipment.

DJ Products is a major innovator in the design and manufacture of ergonomic solutions to material handling situations. Our ergonomically-designed electric and motorized carts, tugs and movers eliminate the strains and pains associated with manually pushing and pulling heavy carts, equipment or materials in a wide variety of industrial and retail environments. Our products are less costly, smaller and more maneuverable than traditional electric equipment used to move carts and equipment on production floors and in warehouses. Our battery-powered walk-behind movers provide maximum operator control and safety while offering superior maneuverability, even in narrow or tight spaces like busy hospital corridors and crowded grocery aisles. As a leading manufacturer of ergonomic powered carts and movers, DJ Products has built a reputation for developing ergonomic solutions to unique and specialized customer material handling challenges. Contact our ergonomic sales engineers today for an evaluation of your ergonomic needs.

Ergonomic Material Handling Equipment Meets Needs of Multi-Generational Workforce

Finding, training and keeping qualified workers is slated for discussion at the Material Handling Industry of America (MHIA) annual conference NA 2010 scheduled for April 26-29 (see our January 4 post). The conference will devote two educational sessions to managing the supply chain workforce:

How Industry is Changing Material Handling Training and Education will focus on the demanding skill sets now necessary to perform even entry-level jobs in highly sophisticated, automated warehouses, distribution centers and fulfillment houses.
Building the Workforce of Tomorrow will focus on the challenge of integrating multi-generational workforces successfully as baby boomers and the knowledge they harbor leave the industry.

The move toward more automated supply chain operations and the increasing sophistication of the technology that drives them presents a considerable workforce challenge for supply chain managers. Technology is necessitating a more highly skilled supply chain worker making it difficult to find suitable workforce candidates among the industry’s traditional unskilled labor pool. Exacerbating the problem is the coming retirement of skilled baby boomers who have been the backbone of the supply chain industry for decades. Supply chain managers worry that there simply won’t be enough new workers coming into the system to replace those who are leaving it. The poor economic climate has actually alleviated that part of the problem somewhat. Lost savings and pinched budgets have forced many baby boomers to return to the workforce or push retirement back a few more years.

While their expertise is welcome, the distinct physical needs of an aging workforce have thrown another wrench into the supply chain machinery. Ergonomic material handling equipment that removes the physical burden from the worker could be the key to accommodating senior workers. Adjustability allows ergonomically designed carts and tugs to accommodate workers of every shape, size, sex and physical ability, providing supply chain managers with maximum use of their workforce.