Photo By William Addison | DLA Director Navy Vice Adm. Mark Harnitchek speaks with Bestworks Industries for the...... read more read more
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VALLEY FORGE, Pa. - American manufacturers of textiles, clothing and footwear have tremendous influence with policy makers, Defense Logistics Agency Director Navy Vice Adm. Mark Harnitchek told a crowded room of American Apparel and Footwear Association members May 7.
Harnitchek delivered the keynote address to AAFA members at the Government Contracts Committee spring meeting in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.
He urged the room of textiles, apparel and footwear manufacturers to speak to lawmakers with one voice on key issues of concern.
“I know you’re competitors, but if there’s something that’s important to you all, have an industry position,” he said.
Harnitchek’s appeal came during the question-and-answer period of his presentation, when he addressed concerns regarding inventory reduction, Berry Amendment enforcement, and how to introduce new products into the military supply line.
During his presentation, Harnitchek spoke about budget pressure faced by the Defense Department and made comparisons to what the department faced after the end of the Cold War. He said while the department will see an approximately 30 percent drop in its budget just as it did following the collapse of the Soviet Union, today’s DoD is dropping from more than double the post-Cold War levels.
“From my perspective we’re starting from a position of greater budget strength than we have in the past,” he said.
He also praised the industry members in their efforts to help DLA meet its goal to cut $13 billion in operational costs within six years. And while he stressed the agency will still continue to seek cost reductions across the board, he remains focused on also maintaining a strong industrial base.
“What I don’t want to do is save a nickel today at the expense of a shrinking industrial base, and you guys are very brittle in terms of industrial bases,” he said. “So we need to make sure we keep the costs of uniforms down as much as possible while making sure the money that we do have to spend is spread out among the industry.”
Michael Mansh, president of Pennsylvania Apparel LLC and chairman of the Government Contracts Committee for AAFA, praised the agency’s efforts to increase communication with industry.
“We’ve been very fortunate to establish a dialogue with the director of DLA,” he said. “It’s very fortuitous for us that he’s agreed to come and speak to us once more.”
Harnitchek’s trip to the Philadelphia region also included a visit to Bestworks Industries for the Blind of Cherry Hill, New Jersey, a DLA Troop Support vendor and manufacturer of Navy fleece jackets.
Harnitchek spoke with company leaders and toured the manufacturing area.
| Date Taken: | 05.09.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 05.15.2014 14:56 |
| Story ID: | 129968 |
| Location: | VALLEY FORGE, PENNSYLVANIA, US |
| Web Views: | 51 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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