AFSC Goals Series No. 5: Creating a better organization

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Editor's note: This is the final story in a six-article series about the AFSC Strategic Plan, goals and correlating objectives.

In light of financial constraints, Air Force Sustainment Center senior leaders said a smarter way of doing business is the key to success. "Improving effectiveness by maximizing a continuous process improvement mindset" is just one way to do that.

To ensure the workforce can achieve the fifth AFSC Strategic Plan goal, senior leaders brainstormed two correlating objectives. They are "Develop a cost-effectiveness strategy," and "Achieve Air Force mandated efficiencies: logistics and installations and weapon system support efficiencies."

"This goal is all about cost -- how do we manage cost effectiveness, reduction and avoidance, said United Kingdom royal air force Wing Commander Jonathan Durke at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. Assigned to the Logistics Directorate, he is working with the strategic planning team on the development, maturation and socialization of the AFSC Goals and Objectives. "Financial constraints are a long term reality, so we need to become a more cost-conscious organization."

The goal and its objectives require the efforts of the entire sustainment center workforce, said Janet Johnson, AFSC Logistics Strategic Planning Branch chief and lead at Tinker.
"On a personal level for employees, it's about sustainment of the warfighter and sustainment of the opportunities we have as personnel, too," she said. "And, taking action to provide goods and services in the best possible way to ensure we're a viable product in the future of the Department of Defense."

To do so, the AFSC must focus on changing its cost culture.

Led by AFSC Logistics Directorate and Financial Management, personnel are conducting several activities within the air base wings, maintenance and supply chain management wings to define cost effectiveness. Additional cost-related initiatives will be identified across the AFSC business areas to drive activities and measure these efforts.
The second objective, "achieve Air Force mandated efficiencies: logistics and installations and weapon system support efficiencies" is overseen by AFSC Logistics and is still a work in progress. Yet, the commander did say the objective is driven around Air Force-mandated logistics and installation targets.

Commander Durke said as with the other areas of the strategic plan, the fifth goal is not set in stone. It is subject to change, edits and clarification. By making these corrections, it will make for a better AFSC.

"The AFSC Strategic Plan is a living document that will continue to develop as the center construct matures," the commander said. "Goals and objectives are continually evaluated for validity to ensure we have strong, defined areas of focus for the future of the AFSC."