American Public University System
The Global Combat Support System-Army is the latest information technology that replaced many aging and obsolete Army management information systems across military science logistics environments around the Army’s Active and Reserve elements together with the National Guard. The modern, web-based, state-of-the-art finance and logistics system primarily based on commercial or industrial best shelf (SAP) software system, GCSS Army, functions as an automatic combat enabler for troopers. Integrated with Department of Defense monetary systems, it provides a correct price management and financial visibility for military science equipage and support. GCSS-Army meets the mission of providing a system for business audibility and new asset and quality visibility. Interfacing with alternative Army supply systems gives users the continuity of operations.
Server-Side Hardware Requirements
On the Server –Side, Hardware requirements include Data Storage Servers such as Online Storage, which must be able to store as many megabytes of data as demanded. The potential for needing Gigabytes of information storage capability is additionally in the realm of potentialities. Also, Near-line Storage can be used to ensure that All User and Application knowledge together with software package installation and configuration files are protected. Further, secure off-site storage needs to be performed on a weekly basis with a 24-hour retrieval times.
Networking aspects such as Load Equalization are equally necessary for consideration to ensure Application Servers, and information servers are always load balanced at the appliance level to confirm most stability and handiness. Also, Private Network - The system needs a “back-end” personal network setting to verify that end-user operations (on the front-end) don't seem to be obstructed by information backups, index propagations, or alternative giant back-end knowledge transfers. The system can use, wherever applicable, the quality hardware and knowledge communications resources including, and not restricted to, the overall local area network affiliation at the server/hosting website, network servers, and network management tools.
Server-Side Software Requirements
The basic software requirements for this Information System demand a Backup software package since data and application backups are managed through fully supported backup software package solutions. Also, HTTP and GIS Server Applications are essential because the internet is the first delivery protocol for the appliance, protocol. Therefore, connected GIS server applications are needed to support practically the system. Of course, Web Browsers and Browser Plug-ins support are required for External Interface needs; commonly supported internet browsers are thus implemented in a thin-client design. The system uses Email Services as a secondary delivery protocol for alerts, data, and different information from the system. Therefore, email server applications are needed to practicality support the system
As the primary knowledge storage mechanism for the corporate commonplace electronic information service management system, Microsoft SQL Server is also required to practicality support the system. The system uses wherever applicable, the quality software package resources including but not restricted to, MS ASP/Java Scripts, C++/C#, MS SQL Server, and IIS, or the utilization of PHP/Perl, MySQL server, and Apache server. The system creates and makes data obtainable in standardized data formats like the tab-delimited text to be used on users’ systems as well as native installations of ARC GIS software package or other off-line software package applications.
The end-user would interact with the system through the exploitation of the pre-designed operating system software such as SAP, ERP, and GFEBS. GCSS-Army uses SAP software system, which is a commercial ERP system, to exchange a spread of Army data management and supply systems. It also employs Fund Enterprise Business System (GFEBS) and Enterprise Information Systems to meet its goals. Therefore, as for the system to figure on a bigger scale exploitation, numerous databases system would be produced by the interface that will be appropriate for the particular level of data that the end-user acquires. The basic browser supported includes the Mozilla Firefox and the Microsoft Internet Explorer browsers.
Competitive Analysis of the System
Particular competitive advantages offered by GCSS Army has been achieved through a mix of Early-on identification and shut management of practical necessities, Mature, and rigorous internal check processes, Superb direct designing, Meticulous trailing of critical events through associate integrated super schedule (Newcomb, 2010). Again, Resourceful systems design and technical team support and Veteran coaching development and readying categories (Newcomb, 2010). Quality leadership and compelling performance at every level of the organization have contributed to the above-listed advantages.
Logistics is an important part of military operations that always gets overshadowed by flashy weapons systems and platforms. The GCSS Army replaced enterprise-level logistics system since it permits warfighters to trace the status of requested components and to manage their units’ budgets for possessing extra gear. The Global Combat Support System-Army (GCSS-Army) assists groups anticipate, assign and synchronize the movement of vital supplies and instrumentality required to combat theaters. GCSS Army is one of the biggest enterprise resources planning (ERP) system and its implementations within the United States Department of Defense, expected to hit one hundred and sixty thousand users.
Managed and operated by the Military Program Executive Office in charge of Enterprise Information Systems (PEO-EIS), the system is currently in early steps of implementation at Fort Bliss, Texas. The ERP program, which is web-based, is used to manage unit maintenance and military science money functions, like the acquisition of components and provides (Samara, 2015).
GCSS-Army uses SAP software system, which is a commercial ERP system, to exchange a spread of Army data management and supply systems. As a result of its integration with United States Department of Defense electronic money pursuit and designing systems, GCSS-Army conjointly permits commanders to perform value management, money visibility, and total value possession for military science instrumentality, personnel, and maintenance accurately (Newcomb, 2010). The idea of one unified supply system had been kicking round the Army for before the launch of GCSS-Army program in late 2007. However, these early ideas were a lot of custom forms of technology that were discarded once the service set to maneuver to some extent in consideration of the ERP-based system (Samara, 2015).
One of the key advantages of GCSS-Army is that it permits its users to trace the status of components orders. It was a significant challenge for older logistics support systems. Throughout Operation Desert Storm within the early 1990s for example, the systems in use allowed units to order components, but it was not able to work out the order’s status. One of the outcomes of this uncertainty was that logistic officers created multiple requests for similar part components. Therefore, there was no need to the parts or components to travel to wherever the units were during the operation, allowing stacks of supplies in rear supply centers.
Interestingly, GCSS-Army avoids these problems by permitting users to trace components and manage prices related to maintenance. Release 1.1, for example, replaces three major Army supply systems: the Property Book Unit provide an increased system, commonplace Army Maintenance System-Enhanced and also the average Army Retail provide System. To further support the launch with the 2/1 AD, the program team regenerated over 240,000 information records, changed 38 freelance interfaces, transferred over $1.83 million prices of open logistics transactions with zero errors, and trained over three hundred military and civilian personnel via Web-based and teacher expedited courses.
GCSS-Army permits logisticians to own a whole operational image that features the placement, status, and regular distribution of kit and supplies. Having 360-degree visibility helps warfighters brace themselves for any demand. It also prepares warfighters to set up future budgets, verify necessities, and form readiness. Soldiers can have expertise advantages in an exceeding variety of areas. Warehouses do not need to have long closeouts and shall have improved prediction and reduced client wait times. Unit supply rooms do have a virtual image of client bins at the provision support activity that guarantees to scale back risk to troopers by limiting movements round the field.
Maintenance sections can take pleasure in operator records that are within the system for good and from the improved visibility of components and readiness across all levels. Catalog records can mechanically update as changes occur, and incoming deliveries are going to be visible throughout the provision chain. Finance also takes pleasure in the management of year-end and former year-end closeouts, whereas resource managers can track monetary transactions and funding associated with the provision.
Finally, GCSS-Army operates collectively with the General Fund Enterprise Business System (GFEBS) to form an economic system of record that integrates regulation and finance capability. This integration of the rules and monetary systems can finally turn out an auditable system of record for commanders to make sure that they are ensuring maximum use of their resources to enhance readiness.
Recommendations for Improving the System
Even though GCSS-Army is prepared to revolutionize the approach Sustainers give to the force and increase availability, the system can further be improved to provide enhanced readiness, responsibility, and, therefore, the ability to be financially audited by incorporating certain key features into the existing system.
Inclusion of military partnership opportunity advancements to the system
It is true that GCSS-Army permits the logistics community to revive balance whereas at the same time setting conditions for the long run. Logisticians have operated in exceedingly simple stovepipe surroundings for many years. However, as we have a tendency to expertise advancements in technology, partnership opportunities within the military, and commonality of kit and services, our ability to share processes and procedures that reach across the field should advance similarly.
Subsuming gift STAMISs into one system
GCSS-Army has the potential to subsume the gift STAMISs into one system that may be accessible through the net. This web-based system, I believe can improve instrumentation management throughout the life cycle, visibility of the provision pipeline, reportage for coming up with, execution and readiness, and close to period knowledge. This extra inclusion can, therefore, make GCSS-Army enable commanders to mass additional combat power within the right places on the field at the correct time. STAMISs will enhance the system by increasing commanders' information and permitting them to form higher and faster selections.
Adding Training menu to the Software
Given the Systems, Applications, and Products (SAP), in Data Processing enterprise application is the basis for developing GCSS-Army, there is, therefore, the need to create a base of SAP training menu as an integral part of the software. This would be implemented by adding coaching and skilled military education programs to the GCSS-Army. Since one of the major strengths of this system is user-friendliness, uploading training programs and manuals to the software links would be of great help to the warfighters.
Conclusion
GCSS-Army replaces the suite of current military science provision data technology programs and integrates field monetary management into one system. This technique has an effect on each logistic space, motor pool, maintenance shop, warehouse, and property book within the Army, each in operational units and fixed-base operations like a board of provision stores and maintenance organizations. The capabilities of the GCSS-Army offer leaders additional correct data further quickly, permitting commanders to manage better valuable resources and build informed selections ensuring most readiness and combat power. Commanders, therefore, get close to integrated real-time data, total property visibility, and financial responsibility to modify speedy and efficient decision making in an exceedingly fluid surroundings. GCSS-Army alters mission command by providing staffs and commanders period knowledge on the disposition of supplies and instrumentation. Warfighters can precisely project when supplies shall arrive and when vehicles are going to be totally mission capable. This data permits commanders to react quickly to changes in the field, seize opportunities to use weaknesses, and additional deliberately set up operations.
References
Newcomb, P. H., Mcpeek, J., Purtill, M., & Nguyen, L. (2010). Modernization of Reliability and Maintainability Information System (REMIS) into the Global Combat Support System-Air Force (GCSS-ARMY) Framework. Information Systems Transformation, 193-222
Samara, T. (2015). ERP: Contribution and Trends. Integration or Disintegration ERP and Information Systems, 9-14.
