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Debate Topic: Robbing Spares â Tactical Availability Boost or Strategic Supply Chain Risk?
By Paul R Salmon FCILT,FSCM,FCMI In Defence, ârobbingâ or âcannibalisingâ spares refers to removing components from one asset (vehicle, ship, aircraft, or system) to repair…
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Define âToo Robustâ in Defence Packaging Terms
By Paul R Salmon FCILT, FSCM In a military supply chain, too robust might mean: 1.Unnecessary protection levels for the itemâs fragility, value, or journey…
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AI-Powered Packaging Optimisation: The Next Frontier in Supply Chain Efficiency and Sustainability
By Paul R Salmon, FCILT FSCM Introduction: Why Packaging Optimisation Matters More Than Ever In supply chains, packaging has often been treated as a fixed…
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Future-Proof: The Skills Every Supply Chain Manager Will Need by 2035
By Paul R Salmon, FCILT Supply chains are evolving faster than ever. Digitalisation, geopolitical volatility, environmental mandates, and shifting customer expectations are reshaping not only…
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âIf a Relationship Is to Work, There Must Be Transparency â And in Defence, That Transparency Must Come in the Form of Dataâ
By Paul R Salmon FCILT, FSCM Introduction: The Foundations of Trust In every relationshipâwhether between individuals, organisations, or governmentsâthe foundation is trust. And trust, particularly…
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From Guesswork to Ground Truth: Why DE&S Must Accelerate Forecasting Adoption â Now
By Paul R Salmon FCILT, FSCM In the high-stakes world of defence logistics, the ability to accurately forecast demand is more than a planning convenience…
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âFirst Strike, First Right: PEP Accuracy at a Glanceâ
By Paul R Salmon FCILT, FSCM Measuring the accuracy of a Priming Equipment Pack (PEP) means evaluating how well its contents match the actual demands…
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Priming Equipment Packs in Defence: Smart Logistics or Shelf-Bound Legacy?
By Paul R Salmon FCILT FSCM FCMI Chair, CILT Defence Forum Introduction In the high-stakes world of defence logistics, time is often the most valuable…
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Forecast Accuracy in Defence: Is It Possible â and Whatâs âGood Enoughâ?
By Paul R Salmon FCILT FSCM FCMI Forecasting has long been the cornerstone of effective supply chains. In the commercial world, it drives everything from…
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Understanding the Domino Effect on Defence Supply Chains – A Small Change in Failure Rate, A Big Impact
By Paul R Salmon FCILT, FSCM In defence logistics, seemingly small changes can have far-reaching consequences. One of the most underestimated levers in the support…
About
Paul Salmon
Editor in Chief
Paul Salmon FCILT is Chair of the CILT Defence Forum and the DE&S Logistics Profession Bodies Ambassador. A Chartered Fellow of CILT, CMI, and ISCM, Paul leads efforts to professionalise Defence logistics, championing CPD, chartered recognition, and stronger industry partnerships. He is a published thought leader, conference speaker, and award-winning advocate for supply chain innovation, data-driven decision-making, and resilience. With a background in both operational delivery and strategic transformation, Paul works across Defence to improve forecasting, inventory management, and supply chain integration. He is passionate about inspiring the next generation of logisticians through outreach, mentoring, and professional engagement. (Any views expressed are my own and are not those of UK defence )
