Model Use of Innovative MEDLOG Data Management Technologies and Industry Best Practices: Architecture, Data Transactions Model, and Prototype for a Highly Scalable, Integrated, and Just–in-Time Defense Medical Logistics Enterprise to support Next Gen Theater/Operational Medicine

The Defense Medical Logistics Standard System (DMLSS) is undergoing a technical refresh in which it will move from a client server infrastructure to an open architecture, web based system.  This transformation will signal the introduction of the new generation system called LogiCole.

While this transition will take a couple of years to complete, the military would like to look beyond this immediate action to identify emerging technologies with the potential to improve the overall performance of the system to enable higher functionality for Defense Medical Logistics users.  Therefore, the objective of this MTEC project is to perform an in-depth analysis of current industry/academic best practices, future trends and technical capabilities, and rapidly emerging technologies—such as blockchain, predictive modeling for logistics, pre-positioning, data requirements for drone tracking/delivery, 3D printing and other innovative approaches—for potential adoption. The end goal is to improve Defense Medical Logistics Information Technology (DMLIT) systems to support medical care to injured and ill warfighters and their families.

The Joint medical logistics functional community requires a study of data management tools and methodologies in use within private industry and under development in academia that will allow for cutting-edge, highly transactional data compilation, advanced data analytics, and global inventory management. This research effort will expedite the realization of the Department of Defense’s (DoD’s) ability to leverage information technologies and practices, significantly advancing the integration of cutting edge technologies into the modernization of Defense Medical Logistics Enterprise Solution (DML-ES).  As a result of this research, DML-ES modernization will have added opportunities to integrate higher functionality into the technologies and will benefit from improved aptitude, ultimately leading to DML-ES integration with Joint Operational Medicine Information Systems (JOMIS) efforts for healthcare and readiness.

The research project award recipients were selected from among the Offerors who responded to MTEC’s Request for Project Proposals (18-01-MEDLOG).

Building Integrated Supply Chain Solutions

Project Team: Arizona State University
Award Amount: $2.40M
Project Duration: 24 months
Project Objective: Model Use of Innovative MEDLOG Data Management Technologies and Industry Best Practices (MEDLOG) will expedite the Department of Defense’s (DoD’s) ability to evolve as a fully integrated supply chain organization (FISCO) while operating in an era of rapid supply chain technologic change.

The FISCO will leverage information technologies and practices to incorporate cutting edge technologies to support and improve healthcare provision and medical readiness across the range of established healthcare settings and in the field. Project activities include an in-depth analysis of technologies and practices employed by the DoD in its refresh of the current defense logistics system to a web-based integration (LogiCole).

The project will consider for adoption current and anticipated industry/academic best practices, trends and technical capabilities, and rapidly emerging technologies (such as blockchain, predictive modeling for logistics pre-positioning, drone tracking/delivery, 3D printing and other innovative approaches).. An industry advisory group composed of supply chain leaders in prominent health care organizations and other sectors will provide guidance for the project.

The end goal is to provide prototype tools, strategies, and a roadmap to improve supply chain and logistics needed to support medical care to injured and ill warfighters and their families.  The Department of Supply Chain Management in the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University, with Dr. Eugene Schneller as the principal investigator, will coordinate project/team activities.