A New System for Managing Bowman C41 Tactical Communications Assets for the UK Ministry of Defence
Comprehensive consultative process delivers an efficient system that meets critical requirements
Project Overview: The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) encountered two significant challenges with its Bowman Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence (C4I) tactical communications system: compliance with International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and repeated failures in National Audit Office (NAO) audits. To address the root causes of these issues, the MoD partnered with Camcode Global to develop an asset management system that would both solve the immediate problems and improve overall supply chain performance, data accuracy, and operational accuracy.
Challenges
The Phalanx CIWS project presented challenges that are commonly faced by defence organisations as they adopt, update, and integrate complex systems, including:
Camcode Global’s Role
Camcode Global employed its consultative approach to develop a custom solution, working closely with the UK MoD’s project team responsible for integrating the Phalanx CIWS. The Camcode Global Engineering team meticulously assessed each individual asset, focusing on three key objectives:
Achieving ITAR Compliance: Each of the 60,000 components required precise labeling and data management to meet ITAR requirements. Camcode Global ensured that every asset was uniquely identified, properly documented, and traceable in accordance with international regulations, streamlining compliance processes and minimising the risk of non-compliance.
Enhancing Lifecycle Management: By implementing durable, highly reliable labeling solutions, Camcode Global improved the traceability and maintainability of each component throughout the lifecycle of the weapon systems. This approach reduced maintenance costs, supported long-term data accuracy, and aligned with the MoD’s operational objectives for managing critical defence assets.
Data Validation: The Engineering team ensured that the OEM data recorded matched what was in the management system.
Key Benefits
Following this comprehensive asset reduction process and by achieving a strategic optimisation of ITAR reporting, Camcode Global significantly enhanced the UK MoD’s management of the Phalanx CIWS. By transitioning from tracking 60,000 individual components to just 3,000 key assets, the solution achieved remarkable outcomes:
- Cost Efficiency: The drastic reduction in tracked assets allowed the UK MoD to cut through-life support costs, eliminating the need for extensive data management and resource-intensive maintenance tracking.
- Streamlined Maintenance Support Contracts: By focusing on a core set of critical components, Camcode Global enabled the MoD to simplify and optimise maintenance support contracts, resulting in faster service, reduced administrative overhead, and better allocation of resources.
