DDOO's kitting operations enhance support to aviation customers

Having end item kits assembled and available to the customer at the point of consumption, enables the Warfighter to perform the mission effectively. At the Defense Distribution Depot Oklahoma City, Okla. a three-member team making up DDOO's newest tailored logistics service, the kitting operation, is assembling kits and meeting the needs of our nation's military.

Currently, with 11 kitting projects underway and four completed, DDOO's kitting team handles more than 550,000 different components that make up more than 1,600 types of kits. "These are primarily maintenance kits supporting the F110 SLEP," said Terry Phillips, production controller for DDOO's kitting team

The kitting operation is unique in that the components that make up the kits can come into DDOO in various quantities. "Accuracy becomes a key element in the success of our program," said Phillips. "If a manufacturer packages a component into bags of 100 each, we have to break open each bag, of what may be 60,000 each total, and verify the amount before we can receipt the material. We do not have a plus or minus tolerance and the customer depends on us to give them exactly what they need."

"DDOO can receive a bag of washers containing 1,000 components and if we receive an order for a kit requiring 637 of those washers. We have to count each washer before assembling the kit," continued Phillips.

One of the kits DDOO assembles is for the Forward Stator which is comprised of 56 line items and over 2,000 eaches per kit.

DDOO may have a small team, but the work they are performing is having a big impact. "Currently, DDOO has two-team members and myself," said Phillips. "In 2009 alone, we assembled over 500 kits valued at more than $3.9 million.

"By having us assemble the kits, it streamlines the maintenance process for our customers," said Phillips. "They have everything they need in one complete package to perform their mission effectively, efficiently and in a timely manner. That's extremely important for our Warfighters executing their critical mission."

DDOO provides a full range of distribution services in support of the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center, Tinker Air Force Base tenants, and other global customers.

Core services include receiving, storage, packaging, and issue of military supplies. Support to the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center is primarily for programmed depot maintenance for numerous aircraft and engines and is available around the clock.

The majority of the items shipped from DDOO are destined for customers on base including the 552nd Air Control Wing, the U. S. Navy Strategic Communications Wing One, the 507th Air Refueling Wing and the 3rd Combat Communications Group.

Off-base shipments from DDOO support customers on Air Force bases worldwide with the various systems and commodities that have been repaired at Tinker Air Force Base.