CONFIDENTIAL
2ND DRAFT
European Allies. In common with the United Kingdom defence industry,
the ROF organisation is making the necessary arrangements for
assuming full responsibility for quality control, and plans to
complete these during 1976.
ARMY SUPPORT ORGANISATION
Royal Army Ordnance Corps Computerised Inventory System
34. The Statement on Defence Estimates 1971 (Cmnd.4592) outlined plans
for a computerised Central Inventory Control Point (CICP), to be located
at Bicester, to improve the management of Ordnance matériel. The
CICP was opened in April 1972 and transfer to it of the Royal Army
Ordnance Corps commodity range has been virtually completed. Control
of RAOC stocks in BAOR has been taken over by an Inventory Control
Point (ICP) at Viersen, directly linked with CICP. Control by
computer has also been extended to Berlin, and will be fully
operative in Hong Kong early in 1975. A trial is planned to take
place shortly on the use of small mobile computers at inventory
points within brigades. The development of a computer-based system
in support of overseas sales continues. A feasibility study in the
use of computer output on microfilm is well advanced and it is
expected that the introduction of this facility, early in 1976, will
achieve worthwhile savings in paper and distribution costs.
Maintenance of Spares
35. The flow of spare parts for equipment from industry has been
significantly reduced as a result of their difficulties over the
past year. In addition, it has been necessary to reduce the
consumption of motor fuel. Daily vehicle activity has therefore
been restricted to conserve stocks. Since operational maintenance
in, for example, Northern Ireland, could not be stinted, economies
have had to be made principally in training activity. These
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CONFIDENTIAL