Manpower and Equipment.

TM 38-400/NAVSUP PUB 572/AFMAN 23-210 MCO 4450.14/DLAM 4145.12

equipment needed to perform no more than 75 percent

is the availability of a standard telephone to accomplish

of the average work load. All other labor and equipment

the computer to terminal link.

can be assigned to a Central Labor and Equipment Pool

(4) While most of the storage applications

from which they may be dispatched, as required, to

program will require special purpose software, there

those components of the storage activity confronted with

exists an extensive variety of "canned" programs

peak or heavy work requirements exceeding the

available in the industry at minimal or no cost to the

capabilities of permanently assigned minimum work

Government. Frequently, these simulation type models

force.

can be employed in the decision-making processes

where before only best guesses were possible.

(a) The pooling and assignment of

manpower and equipment, according to priority

(5) One area in the field of ADP storage

workload, proves successful only when such assignment

where substantial savings are possible, and therefore of

is conducted on an absolutely impartial basis.

obvious concern to the storage manager, is the

Personnel and equipment pools must be operated for

generation of source data.

Older methods of

the benefit of all elements concerned, based purely on

handscribing with subsequent keypunch card generation

needs generated by work load or the purpose of the

are giving way to original preparation of information in a

Labor and Equipment Pool will be defeated. For this

machine-readable form. At the present time bar codes

reason, organizational placement of the Labor and

and optical character readers are playing an ever

Equipment Pool should be given careful consideration.

increasing role in source data automation.

This can best be accomplished when such assignments

(6) The use of standard terms, symbols,

are directed by a Production Planning and Control

documents, etc., will provide a level of uniformity and

Activity.

This will assure maximum utilization of

compatibility and permit operation of systems designed

facilities and manpower by the application of work

at one activity to function at multiple locations. All

measurement standards (where feasible) in the

information requirements, internal and external, should

planning, scheduling, and controlling of workload and

be derived from common use data to the maximum

manpower distribution.

extent feasible.

(b) Notwithstanding

the

overall

management and distribution of men and equipment

8-2. Manpower and Equipment.

based on work standards, instances often arise in actual

floor situations where the workload increases in several

a. Manpower. Manpower is one of the primary

areas of an activity simultaneously and the combined

resources of a supply installation. It is also the greatest

labor requirement exceeds the capabilities of the forces

item of expense. As such, it must be properly utilized,

available. When this occurs, a decision as to equitable

assigned, and directed.

Economical and proper

use of available pooled resources should be made by

personnel/labor assignment depends on thorough

the chief of each activity involved, with prime

planning

during

consideration

scheduled

consideration given to the higher priority workloads.

assignments. General personnel labor problems should

When this management effort is not sufficient to cope

be openly discussed among staff members and heads of

with the volume of priority workload in a given operation

component units of the activity. By this means, every

or function, the decision on realignment of priorities

individual performing management duties will be fully

should move up the echelons of management/command

informed of the overall labor situation and made aware

to the necessary level.

of his own responsibilities toward the efficient

(c) Separately trained elements may be

employment of the forces assigned to them.

developed in the pool so long as flexibility is not

b. Labor and equipment pools.

impaired. Personnel and squads should be assigned to

(1) This section is not applicable to

like jobs whenever possible (i.e., warehousing, shipping,

ammunition operations.

receiving, etc.). Over-specialization should be avoided

(2) Labor.

Operational requirements in

since it defeats the purpose of a labor pool.

warehouses or other component elements of depots and

(d) Effective management of pooled

other major supply installations can and do vary

resources requires constant consideration of the time

extensively from day to day. In view of this, the

factor involved in any movement of labor and

assignment of laborers and equipment to subdivisions of

equipment from one assignment to another.

such activities on a permanent basis can become an

Assignments/reassignments should be closely studied

uneconomical practice. Consistent with mission and

organization of the activity, it is more economical to

permanently assign to a unit that amount of laborers and

8-3