Marine Corps Equipment Readiness Information Tool (MERIT)

CTC created the U.S. Marine Corps Equipment Readiness Information Tool called “MERIT” to help the Marine Corps measure materiel readiness in real time.  Today, this first-of-its-kind equipment-readiness management tool is in use in every theater of USMC operations.

The success of this product has led to the creation of at least seven additional decision-support tools for the U.S. Marine Corps Logistics Command.  These tools improve Marine Corps materiel readiness through enterprise asset visibility, giving our warfighters faster access to key information so they can make decisions and manage the availability of vehicles, ordnance, communications, and other equipment with greater speed and efficiency.  In addition to MERIT, the new applications (grouped together as the Life Cycle Modeling Integrator, or LCMI) are:  Total Life Cycle Management Assessment Tool; Total Support Cost; Supply Chain Operations Performance Enabler; Master Scheduling Support Tool; Dynamic Equipment Repair Optimization; 50/50 Support Tool; and Howitzer Information Tool.

MERIT:  A Time-Saving Decision-Support Tool

MERIT transforms existing legacy data into valuable information that provides a dynamic, adaptable view of equipment readiness.  This powerful, Web-enabled tool graphically displays the current readiness posture of units through the Corps, including detailed supply and maintenance information for more than 185 different weapon systems.  The user-friendly MERIT takes data from a variety of sources and displays it in a manner that allows the user to identify problems in “two seconds” and find the cause in “ten seconds,” according to the Logistics Management Specialist who chaired the Materiel Readiness Integrated Product Team for the USMC.  She explained, “We performed a study before MERIT came on line that revealed that on any given day, as many as 500 Marines were doing nothing but making readiness charts.  Now, instead of spending 80 percent of their time gathering data, they are spending that time solving problems and facilitating readiness improvements.”   (See “MERIT puts Marine Corps on same watch,” The Emblem, April 4, 2003, Sgt. Phuong Chau, Press Chief.)

Merit has been shown to:

• Reduce time spent reporting materiel readiness by 1 million hours per year
• Free up 500 labor years annually for redirected Marine efforts

To meet the requirements of USMC logisticians, MERIT draws data from 14 sources, including primary legacy systems and various independent source systems.  CTC’s database management team assesses new data sources and assures their smooth integration through standard processes and procedures for designing, implementing, and testing the added data into MERIT’s common data repository.  CTC maintenance of MERIT includes data quality management, data feed integration, database maintenance, usability enhancements, integration of PKI, Oracle Discoverer, and compliance with evolving government and industry information security requirements.

Clients Express Satisfaction

MERIT is a tool that can be used by everyone, including the Commandant, the Battalion Commander, or the small-unit leader on the front lines.  Users describe it as versatile, scalable, and intuitive, and more . . .

“The Greatest … what used to take days now takes minutes”

“Very Important … for my daily work and accuracy”

“Decreased research time … decreased man hours”

“Snap shot of entire Wing vice LM2 one unit at a time”

“Speedy access to data”

“Fastest and most accurate data … can’t live without it!”

“Responsive support”

Responses from Customer base and feedback from Naval Postgraduate School Study

In addition, MERIT has won numerous national awards, including the Association for Enterprise Integration Excellence In Enterprise Integration Award, DoD Chief Information Officer Award (second place, team category), Government Computer News Award, the International Society of Logistics Field Award for Outstanding Services and Contribution to the area of broad field logistics, and many other honors.