b'ViewpointsToward an Intelligent, Agile, and ResponsiveSupply ChainBy Mark NewsomeVA has several initiatives underway to modernize its supply chain and prepare for future public health emergencies. These modernization initiatives, considering the associated chronic delays and protracted struggle to succeed, give way to partnerships and ecosystems that can deliver effective technology platforms, robust cybersecurity, and proven change management approaches. The delays of current efforts in effect and by default signal a call for help to industry commercial-off-the-shelf providers to assist with thinking through the problem and assist with solutions.Antiquated Inventory Management System is Challenge #1VAs supply chain modernization efforts face enormous challenges to its transformation journey to be a lean and efficient leader. The goal is to develop an enterprise solution that achieves speed to market, scalability, security, technology prowess, and the stakeholder buy-in for a sizable, complex organization. Among the most pressing of challenges is a true medical The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has thesupply chain platform that seamlessly integrates the functions daunting mission to provide health care services, benefits,of procurement, asset and facility management, warehousing, and an honorable final resting place to those who servedand commercewhile seamlessly interfacing to the other in the defense of our nation. That mission equates to overenterprise resource planning (ERP) initiatives involving ten million veterans per year for the VA and hundredsfinancial and health care systems. of millions of dollars for medical and surgical supplies. The provision of care for this magnitude of beneficiariesAt present, the VA is challenged to achieve consistent requires supply chain solution that is intelligent, agile, andoperational and business execution across its disparate responsive to the needs of the organization to achieve costsystems today. The root of the challenges today revolves and time efficiencies.around long-standing problems with its antiquated inventory management system [that] exacerbated VAs challenge [with The COVID-19 crisis stress tested an already burdenedCOVID-19]. 1medical supply chain system exposing difficulties in obtaining personal protective equipment and trackingA 2016 study completed by the IBM Center for of medical supplies. Prior to COVID-19 and as part ofThe Business of Government, in collaboration with its supply chain transformation efforts, the VA chose toNortheastern University, noted that the 1990s-era VA implement the Defense Medical Logistics Standard Supportinventory management systemthe Generic Inventory (DMLSS) system and other initiatives.2022 IBM Center for The Business of Government 79'