Joining the Department of Defense Enterprise Resource Planning Team

Over time, the Air Force (AF) built customized legacy logistics data and information systems, which have evolved into an inflexible network of obsolete systems that are costly to maintain and upgrade, and struggle to share data in a timely and coherent manner. The Department of Defense (DoD), to include the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), the US AF, the US Army, and the US Navy, have all recognized the need to modernize and integrate their legacy systems to improve warfighter support. The DLA, the US Army, and the US Navy all see Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) technology as a commercial best practice, and consequently as the best way to replace their legacy systems. They are all in the process of implementing ERP pilot tests. The AF has adopted a 'watch and learn' position on ERP, while continuing to upgrade its legacy systems piecemeal. This thesis first seeks to understand what ERP is and how it is being used. A case study analysis of the DLA, the US Army, and the US Navy ERP pilot tests is used to explore how and why the DoD organizations are using ERP, and to see if it is time for the AF to formally explore ERP technology to replace its legacy logistics systems.