Precision logistics, focus of PLA logistics changes

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, September 24, 2003

Precision logistics, focus of PLA logistics changes

The next 20 years will be an important strategic opportunity for the modernization of the PLA. We must be guided by Chairman Jiang's thinking on national defense and military building, study the background and strategic environment in which changes in military logistics take place, and promote changes in military logistics. Our aim is to establish a "precision logistics" system that executes full-dimensional, rapid, accurate, and timely logistics support at the right time, right place and right amount through information technology application, scientific organization of logistics structures and adoption of modern management means.

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Understand the mainstream of logistics development and set up a strategic form of "precision logistics"

From the global point of view, armed forces of the world powers are transforming from mechanization to information technology application. The reason for the changes in the logistics of the US troops in the Iraq War is the acceleration of strategic transformation. In 2001, a US Armed Force joint operation laboratory put forward a new concept called quick and decisive operation, which was chosen as the principal pattern of operation by the US Department of Defense to realize the "Joint Vision 2020". The recent regional wars, particularly the Iraq War, were dominated by the theory of quick and decisive operation. In fact, backing this theory is the important theory of timely logistics.

As more information technology is extensively applied to wars, precision strikes and dominance of information over enemies have become the main means of winning the initiatives in wars. Rapid wars require effective precision logistics that must be in line with the speed of the rapid wars.

The PLA must adapt itself to wars utilizing information technology and try to renovate its logistics using most up-to-date means. It should replace the old ideas and practices of stressing scale and number in logistics with new ones that are suitable to wars utilizing information technology. Our old ways of logisitics for mechanization warfare lag behind the development of modern high-tech wars. For example, the old way of information transmission by handwriting, telephones and other outmoded means is proved ineffective in wars involving information technology. We must be aware of the serious situation we are in now and accomplish a great revolution in the PLA logistics. The right way of doing so is to adopt principles of using intensively informaiton technology and improving efficiency in logistics, changing from extensive to intensive ways, from "rough logistics" and "fuzzy logistics" to "precision logistics".

Build the foundation of precision logistics using information technology

Information technology application stands at the core of world military changes. Precision logistics must also use informatin technology, which is required by wars using information technology. In the 21st century, the PLA must use information technology to speed up its logistics renovation.

The PLA has started its programs of visual logistics as early as a few years ago. For example, it built a warehouse using visual management systems, a supply distribution network and a network connecting both military and civilian POL depots. These examples offered good experience for precision logistics. The PLA should also increase the responsiveness of its logistics and its comprehensive capabilities of information by developing more technologies and equipment of automatic identification that deal with logistics information, for example, bar codes readers, radio frequency identification equipment and global positioning system (GPS).

Strengthen logistics centers and delivery means and improve rapid transportation capabilities

One of the major jobs the PLA needs to do in changing its logistics is to step up its delivery ability by building large logistics centers. Military logistics is a new and developing science. China started to study it much later than advanced countries. We should learn from their successful experiences and centralize our logistics operations through building large logistics centers. Traditional logistics modes should be changed into different functional modules and an efficient, reasonable rapid logistics network should also be established. In addition, advanced military logistics technologies covering different services of the PLA should be developed to cope with the emergent situations that require a large amount of supplies to be instantly delivered.

Delivery capability is crucial to precision logistics. Regional high-tech wars have revealed to us that poor delivery capability often fails precision logistics. In the future high-tech wars, battlefields will be complex and roads will be very vulnerable to enemy air raids. So, only delivery by air and sea can guarantee effective logistics. Thus, great efforts should be made to enhance the transportation and delivery abilities by air and sea and stiffen real time rapid reaction capabilities through developing air and sea delivery equipment and tools. Air transportation should be focused on the transportation of heavy equipment and the strategic and tactic capabilities of vertical transportation while sea transportation should stress rapid mobility ability. As a vital strategic issue, the strategic logistics of the PLA should be phased in, governed by an overall plan.

Optimize structure and build a scientific, effective logistics system

No precision logistics can be accomplished without its scientific, streamlined and effective organization. Military changes with information technology application at the core have not only changed means of fighting and forms of war, but also changed the structure of armed forces. Advanced countries went to great pains to optimize the structure of their armed forces to adapt themselves to the constantly changing world. We should also integate our separate logistics sections into a compact system by seizing the golden opportunity of changing from mechanization to information technology application in military strengths. All in all, the logistics of the PLA should be centralized and rationalized. Profound reforms in the structure of the logistics should be carried out, which should involve the participation of armed forces and civilians in both peaceful time and war time. The PLA should pave the way for a transformation of logistics by doing away with outmoded material management and unnecessary logistics services such as those that should be the job of civilians. (PLA Daily)

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