CASTING INNOVATIONS


Improved Technical Data Package Leads to Better Casting Source Te U.S. Defense Logistics


Agency (DLA) Aviation, Richmond, Virginia, supports more than 1,340 major weapons systems and is the U.S. military’s integrated material manager for over a million repair parts and supply items support- ing fighter, bomber, transport and helicopter aircraft. As the supply chain manager for the U.S. military’s aviation, DLA Aviation coordinates the logistics of part procurement and a ram air scoop for the Air Force’s B-1 Lancer had been red-flagged as in need of improvement. Te castings were operating OK


in use, but delinquent contracts had resulted in no acceptable procure- ment sources for these critical cast- ings. DLA Aviation turned to the American Metalcasting Consortium’s CAST-IT Team and its own Avia- tion Forging and Casting Assistance Team (AFCAT) to investigate the contracts and determine a solution. One of CAST-IT’s roles is work- ing with government agencies to enhance procurement processes and


resolve problematic casting pro- curements that affect the country’s military readiness. Te ram air scoop castings were


large complex aluminum investment castings with critical specifications, and DLA Aviation could not find anyone to make them. CAST- IT and AFCAT determined the technical data package was outdated and complicated. It contained 359 separate documents with stringent material and quality requirements. Tis cumbersome data package made it difficult for suppliers to properly quote the part. CAST-IT reached out to 12 potential suppliers and identi-


fied three as possible sources. Then, CAST-IT and AFCAT collaborated with the DLA and Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma City, to stream- line the technical data package and clarify the vast amounts of specifica- tions and requirements during the solicitation process. “Tere was a mountain of techni-


cal data that required coordination and clarification to support the buyers in their quest to award,” said Tim Condon, B-1 weapon system program manager, DLA Aviation. “Tis was not business as usual contracts. Te team’s diligent and tireless efforts are what got these awards accomplished.” Ultimately, the team found and ap-


proved two capable sources for the ram air scoop, and Cera Met, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, was selected to provide the castings.


Cleaning up the technical data


package was critical to meeting the urgent need for a casting source and saved the DLA $414,000 in procure- ment costs with an overall cost avoid- ance of more than $4 million.


The ram air scoop was needed for the Air Force’s B-1 Lancer 46 | MODERN CASTING June 2016


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