Industrial Age Capacity at Information Age Speed.

This article examines the potential for a shift in defense logistics and the DOD's relationship with industry to meet the logistical demands of the modern battlespace. The concept outlines solutions that protect supply chains and manufacturing capabilities through increased agility, adaptability, and resilience. The article uses historical examples and a survey of technologies to make a case for change. It examines enabling technologies and offers an implementation strategy. Artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, big data resources, and ever-improving manufacturing methods comprise the key enabling technologies. The implementation strategy involves establishing a market ecosystem that adequately protects intellectual property and does not jeopardize major contributors to the US economy. The US can evolve its industrial base to meet future logistical demands that spur innovation and sustain competition to emulate industrial age capacity at information age speeds. This change effectively pivots defense logistics from supply management and provision to a deployable, war materiel producing system. The emergent paradigm creates a force structure and manufacturing capability adaptable to the entire spectrum of conflict in an on-demand capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]