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supply chain US

How to ensure the defenseindustrial base and supply chain resiliency

Adhikansh Gupta

• 3 min read
How to ensure the defenseindustrial base and supply chain resiliency

The US Department of Defense (DoD) needs to be proactive in managing its industrial base and supply chain resiliency instead of reacting to challenges as they arise. Policies such as managing surge capacity, including resilience in contractor evaluation criteria, and incorporating the industrial base and surge in required wargames are needed. Concerns about the defense-industrial base supporting potential conflicts in the Indo-Pacific region should be a top priority. Efforts are being made to strengthen the industrial base, including investments in critical minerals and multiyear procurements. However, more actions are needed to ensure long-term resilience. Suggestions include investing in surge capacity as a separate activity, establishing supply chain management capabilities, and adding resilience as a metric in acquisition and program management. Transparency in the supply chain and the development of fair metrics would be crucial.

Source: Link

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the importance of ensuring defense-industrial base and supply chain resiliency?

A: Ensuring defense-industrial base and supply chain resiliency is crucial for economic strength and national security.

A: Yes, the White House has issued an executive order on America's supply chains, emphasizing the resilience and capacity of manufacturing supply chains, including those related to defense and agriculture. [Link](https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/02/24/executive-order-on-americas-supply-chains/)

Q: What actions has the Department of Defense taken to strengthen defense-industrial base and supply chain resiliency?

A: The Department of Defense (DoD) has released reports and taken actions to strengthen the defense industrial base and supply chain resiliency. The DoD's report provides a strategic roadmap for building lasting resilience in the defense industrial base. They focus on securing defense-critical supply chains and actively building resiliency. [Link](https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/2944488/defense-department-releases-report-on-strengthening-defense-critical-supply-cha/)

Q: Which departments have signed a memorandum of agreement to align their investments and support a robust semiconductor industrial base?

A: The Department of Commerce and the Department of Defense have signed a memorandum of agreement to align their investments and support a robust semiconductor industrial base, emphasizing supply chain resiliency. [Link](https://www.commerce.gov/news/press-releases/2023/07/department-commerce-and-department-defense-sign-memorandum-agreement)

A: You can refer to the following links for more detailed information:

  1. "How to ensure the defense-industrial base and supply chain resiliency" - Defense News [Link](https://www.defensenews.com/opinion/2023/09/19/how-to-ensure-the-defense-industrial-base-and-supply-chain-resiliency/)
  2. "Assessing and Strengthening the Manufacturing and Defense Industrial Base and Supply Chain" - Federal Register [Link](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/07/26/2017-15860/assessing-and-strengthening-the-manufacturing-and-defense-industrial-base-and-supply-chain)
  3. "Presidential Executive Order on Assessing and Strengthening Manufacturing and Defense Industrial Base and Supply Chain Resiliency" - Trump White House Archives [Link](https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/presidential-actions/presidential-executive-order-assessing-strengthening-manufacturing-defense-industrial-base-supply-chain-resiliency-united-states/)
  4. "Assessing and Strengthening the Manufacturing and Defense Industrial Base and Supply Chain" - Defense.gov PDF [Link](https://media.defense.gov/2018/Oct/05/2002048904/-1/-1/1/ASSESSING-AND-STRENGTHENING-THE-MANUFACTURING-AND%20DEFENSE-INDUSTRIAL-BASE-AND-SUPPLY-CHAIN-RESILIENCY.PDF)
  5. "Securing Defense-Critical Supply Chains - An action plan" - Defense.gov PDF [Link](https://media.defense.gov/2022/Feb/24/2002944158/-1/-1/1/DOD-EO-14017-REPORT-SECURING-DEFENSE-CRITICAL-SUPPLY-CHAINS.PDF)
  6. "President Biden Signs Presidential Waiver of Statutory Requirements for Supply" - Department of Defense [Link](https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3312486/president-biden-signs-presidential-waiver-of-statutory-requirements-for-supply/)
  7. "Department of Commerce and Department of Defense Sign Memorandum Agreement" - Department of Commerce [Link](https://www.commerce.gov/news/press-releases/2023/07/department-commerce-and-department-defense-sign-memorandum-agreement)
  8. "GAO-22-104154, DEFENSE INDUSTRIAL BASE: DOD Should Take..." - GAO Report [Link](https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-22-104154.pdf)