Photo By Gerald Rogers | PONCE, Puerto Rico – Master Sgt. Tatshee L. Simmons, Illinois Army National Guard,...... read more read more
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Story by Gerald Rogers USACE Public Affairs
PONCE, Puerto Rico– Power restoration quickly became a top priority in Puerto Rico following the aftermath of Hurricanes Irma and Maria.
Critical to the power restoration effort is the Port of Ponce’s Bill of Materials Squad and their current BOM Squad regional operation manager, Master Sgt. Tatshee L. Simmons.
“I believe Ponce operations is a huge part of the combined efforts of getting the island back to its main restoration point,” said Tatshee, Illinois Army National Guard, assigned to Task Force Power Restoration. “As the logistical and distribution manager, I oversee the receiving, inventorying, and distribution of all material that arrives, and leaves the Ponce location.”
The Port of Ponce, with its laydown yard and warehouse, is the team’s focal point for temporarily staging an increasing inventory of critical power grid materials, including thousands of wooden, concrete and steel utility poles and hundreds of massive coils of heavy, high tension wire needed to improve infrastructure on the island.
“I began by establishing a method to identify all similar component items, separate them out from others, and store them together,” said Simmons. “That way, any team member can quickly access specific items and have them ready for issue to our clients.”
Simmons, who has a wealth of logistical operations experience, took management of the Ponce site Dec. 22, and wasted little time streamlining its operations.
“We were experiencing some client delays in picking up their materials in a timely manner, so we began staging their materials for pick-up within 72 hours,” said Simmons.
Simmons then instituted the “72-hour rule,” after discussions with fellow BOM Squad staff, to ensure materials were ready and then picked up by clients as quickly as possible.
“I’m not in the business of holding material, but I do understand some of our customers needed to set-up transportation to pick up their materials from the warehouse and laydown yard, and I would extend their time up to 72 hours,” said Simmons.
After 72 hours, Simmons pulls their Defense Department Form, and the requested items are put back into the inventory for release to other clients in need.
“I contact that specific company to let them know how many pallets they have from the warehouse and how many items they have at the laydown yard, since those are larger items. This advance notification allows clients to determine the size and number of trucks they’ll need to pick-up their material,”
Understanding the individual BOM Squad team members was vital to streamlining Ponce distribution operations.
“After meeting with the staff and learning of their backgrounds, I shared my experiences and my expectations and management style,” explained Simmons. She stressed that she was not there to micro-manage this critical operation; instead, “I clearly defined each staff member’s role and empowered them for success.”
Simmons team would stage or assemble a client’s requested materials for pick-up usually that same day.
Simmons came highly recommended and was hand-picked by USACE Task Force Power Restoration officials. She volunteered to deploy here on Dec. 7, 2017, where she was initially assigned as the operations chief for the USACE Recovery Field Office.
“I’m so grateful to be able to help my fellow Americans in Puerto Rico. I’ve met many citizens here and they are so resilient and kind. I walk around in my Army uniform, and they are so respectful, and their positive comments warm my heart,” Simmons said smiling.
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| Date Taken: | 01.19.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 01.20.2018 16:03 |
| Story ID: | 262683 |
| Location: | PONCE, US |
| Web Views: | 441 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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