CATT Sustainment Background Paper
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Improperly Labeled DoD to DoD Shipments
CATT (Computer Automated Transportation Tool) |
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Nature of the problem
The United States Department of Defense (DoD) ships millions of pieces of freight on a daily basis. DoD regulations require that each piece of freight be properly documented with a barcode scannable Military Shipment Label (MSL DD Form 1387) and in some cases a Transportation Control Movement Document (TCMD). MSL’s are attached to the outside of the boxes that are shipped so that at each transportation node, freight processors can simply scan the labels and know where to send the box on the next transportation leg. TCMDs accompany the shipment and serve as a manifest. The vast majority of this freight originates in DoD transportation areas that have access to automated transportation systems which allow the generation of the DoD standard MSLs and TCMDs. However, there are numerous locations within DoD that send packages but do not have the volume to justify the costs of deploying full scale transportation systems. These smaller locations were at risk of being penalized because they could not generate MSLs or TCMDs for their shipments.
One such location was under the control of the Director of Logistics (DOL) at Schofield Barracks, HI. During the last quarter of 1997 the DOL, recognizing the need to properly label their shipments with MSLs and TCMDs, asked the U.S. Army Logistics Integration Agency (LIA) for help.
CATT To The Rescue
The Schofield Barracks request was turned over to Mr. John Waddick of LIA. He immediately saw the potential benefits of a tool allowing smaller transportation locations, such as Schofield Barracks, the means to generate MSLs and other required documentation for their shipments. To solve this problem, he turned to General Dynamics (ISI) of Annandale, VA. LIA and ISI have had great success solving similar problems with the Automated Manifest System (AMS). AMS is a transportation system that utilizes AIT technologies to facilitate Intransit Visibility/Total Asset Visibility (ITV/TAV) by reading and generating DoD standard documentation including MSLs, TCMDs, Issue Release/Receipt Documents (IRRDs), Optical Memory Cards (OMCs) and Radio Frequency (RF) Tags. AMS has been successfully deployed to over 100 fixed and tactical locations worldwide.
Building on their knowledge of the DoD transportation arena, and AMS’ ability to generate MSLs, TCMDs, IRRDs and other standard DoD documents, LIA and ISI developed a scaled down sub-module of AMS called the Computer Automated Transportation Tool (CATT). The first CATT software was successfully deployed to the Schofield Barracks DOL in January 1998.
CATT was designed with the small transportation location in mind. The software can be installed on any PC running Windows NT/95/98/2000. CATT is user friendly. On-line context sensitive help and a Commander’s guide provide the user with all the instruction needed to install and operate CATT. The easy to follow menu system leads the user through the steps required to input data and print the documents. In most cases, the user can be up and running, generating standard DoD shipping documents within a very short period of time after installation. CATT has the ability to be configured to provide as much functionality as needed. The user can operate with just a PC and laser printer, but if necessary additional AIT devices such as label printers, OMC reader/writers, barcode scanners and RF tag devices can be easily added.
CATT Future
Currently CATT is being successfully utilized at numerous US Army and US Navy locations to generate documents for sustainment shipments. LIA envisions that in the near future CATT will provide tools to address the many aspects of DoD transportation. LIA is working with DPMO and ISI to develop a Unit Move module for CATT. This tool will serve as a front end AIT platform to standard DoD unit move systems, allowing the user to import the data, manipulate the data, generate shipping documents, and export the data back into the DoD system. Another module for Direct Vendor Delivery shipments is under development. This module will allow commercial vendors who provide materiel to DoD to label their shipments with DoD standard documentation. Future enhancements include form- based interfaces, modules for household moves, and ammunition shipments. Future versions of CATT will include Web based operations that include software downloading and support.
CATT has found a niche in the often-overlooked small transportation operations. By providing this easy to use tool catering to small transportation locations, LIA and ISI have answered DoD’s requirements for properly documented and labeled shipments.
