You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone.
That is especially true for the supplies TSA’s workforce needs to carry out the mission every day. From the gloves, cleaning supplies and other consumables that our officers use at the airports every day to the pens, toner and equipment that keep the administrative offices running, TSA officers need a lot of things to carry out the agency’s mission.
These supplies don’t appear magically. The airport or office where they are used is the final link in a long supply chain, the heart of which are the TSA Logistics Centers (TSALCs).
TSA has three logistics centers – in Atlantic City, New Jersey; Dallas; and Springfield, Virginia. These warehouses store the bulk of goods TSA uses and are distributed to meet the needs of each division or stakeholder the agency serves.
The largest TSALC is in Dallas where 11 employees work in a facility larger than five football fields. To keep everything organized, TSA has implemented a hybrid inventory and asset management system that helps TSALC workers track every package.
By adjusting their practices based on the needs of stakeholders, the TSALCs are incredibly efficient in replenishing the supplies TSA needs to keep things moving. Even during the pandemic, they’ve been able to get products out quickly and efficiently, making sure that each box goes exactly where it is needed most.
“Navigating the ever-changing requirements and logistical needs of the organization keeps everyone on their toes,” said Joseph Senger, director of the Property Management Division that oversees the TSALCs. Senger and his team accomplish this mission by keeping a proactive stance, trying out new processes that enhance their distribution model.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, TSA puts a huge focus on getting supplies to the right places at the right time, and it isn’t always an easy job. “Ensuring the needs of the TSA and our frontline personnel are met, while simultaneously ensuring our families are safe, was and is very stressful,” said Senger.
During these stressful times, we can all be grateful for the hard work being done behind the scenes at the TSALCs to make sure TSA’s frontline employees have everything they need.