Asset management system results in smoother service

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Myra Dougharty
  • 56th Logistics Readiness Squadron
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  The 56th Logistics Readiness Squadron recently implemented a new system to deliver assets to their customers. The Air Education and Training Command directed the implementation of the new, now active asset management system in early May.

This system is used in the logistics supply chain Air Force wide, replacing the standard asset tracking system formally referred to as SATS. Instead of using SATS along with the enterprise solution-supply, the asset management program allows for one centralized system resulting in smoother logistical support.

"The asset management system will benefit Luke and the Air Force in general, because it provides new, updated hardware as well as inventory control software," said Lt. Col. Michael Davis, 56th LRS commander.

The new asset management system is also compliant with the new AETC mandated operation system Windows 7, as opposed to the older SATS system which only supported Windows XP, according to Staff Sgt. Francisco Garcia-Romero, 56th LRS information technology technician.

Hand-held terminals for both AMS and SATS use most of the same general required capabilities; only AM includes improved functionality due to the upgraded technology.

"With the new system, if the hand-held terminals are down, we can still continue to meet the mission's needs," said Tech. Sgt. Allen Gould, 56th LRS Central Storage NCO-in-charge. "Also, labels for permanent locations throughout the warehouse can be printed on the spot, thus eliminating parts being misplaced."

One of the new system's benefits is that when using the HHT to pull and move assets, a submenu provides the option to pull and move more than one property at a time and to multiple locations if needed.

"Another benefit AMS has is that items can now be delivered, put away and pulled from any desktop computer in the central storage area when hand-held terminals are down," Sergeant Gould said. "With the old system, if the guns were down, the whole system was deemed useless."

An additional benefit for delivering assets is customers can now sign for multiple items using one transaction as opposed to one signature per item. Customers who are authorized to receive assets now sign for them using a four digit pin number rather than a digital signature.

The new asset management system streamlines the way we do business in the Air Force by allowing us to manipulate support reports, said John Ciarrochi, 56th LRS Computer Operations supervisor.

The system is still in its infancy and as such users are still working through the newness, but with time, things will run more efficiently and its use will have a greater impact on the completion of the mission.

"We are still working out the bugs you get with any new system, but our initial indications are positive," Colonel Davis said. "As soon as we can run it at full-speed, we'll realize the full potential of the system as well as coordinate with AETC for suggested improvements that only come from wringing the system out."