Reparable Retrograde and Carcass Return Tracker
Every unserviceable unit removed in the field, followed from site to depot dock against its return-due date and the exchange pool.
These images are illustrations of the concept, not screenshots of the actual product.
Overview
In defense sustainment, many support contracts run on exchange: a site that removes an unserviceable reparable, such as a transmission or an alternator, draws a serviceable replacement from an exchange pool and owes the removed unit, the carcass, back to the repair depot by a set date. This MoveTheWheels concept illustrates a Retrograde Returns tracker for depot logistics and site supply leads that follows each removed unit from the site to the depot dock.
The exchange pool only works if the carcasses come back. A unit left in a site's cage, packed but never collected, or lost between carriers delays its repair, and the pool of serviceable spares runs down until the next removal has nothing to draw on. Tracking returns by email and spreadsheet makes it hard to see which are overdue and whether the pool is still above its minimum.
The illustration shows the tracker under Inventory for unserviceable reparables across all sites. Tiles count units awaiting pickup, in transit, overdue returns and units received this week. An amber alert says the transmission pool is below its minimum and one site's returns are overdue. A table lists serial, item, the site it came from, the removal date with its work order, the return-due date, a status and an action: Book pickup for units not picked up, Track for a unit in transit, Confirm pickup for a packed unit and Open repair order for a unit received at the depot. An Exchange pool card lists each item's quantity on hand against its minimum. For the selected serial, a timeline records its removal, its return-due date, the day it was flagged overdue and its escalation to the site lead, above a Notify program office button.
The tracker is designed to work with two other Burdenoff products. When an AssetHandler field work order removes an unserviceable reparable and issues a replacement from the exchange pool, a retrograde shipment is designed to open in MoveTheWheels for the removed serial with its return-due date. When the unit is received at the depot, the receipt is designed to be handed to ManufacturedOps to open the repair order. Chips inside the Exchange pool card note both hand-offs, so the team can see where each record starts and where it goes next.
What this concept shows
- Tiles for units awaiting pickup, in transit, overdue and received this week
- An alert when an exchange pool item falls below its minimum
- A returns table with serial, site, removal work order, return-due date and status
- Book pickup, Track, Confirm pickup and Open repair order actions by status
- An Exchange pool card with quantity on hand against the minimum for each item
- A per-serial timeline from removal to the overdue flag and escalation
- Removals from AssetHandler work orders, and depot receipts that open ManufacturedOps repair orders
- A Notify program office action
How it works
- An AssetHandler field work order removes an unserviceable unit and issues a replacement from the exchange pool.
- A retrograde shipment opens for the removed serial with its return-due date.
- Site supply packs the unit, and the pickup is booked and confirmed.
- The tracker follows the unit in transit and flags it when the return is overdue or it is never picked up.
- Overdue returns are escalated to the site lead and, where needed, the program office is notified.
- On depot receipt, the receipt is handed to ManufacturedOps to open the repair order.
Who it's for
- Depot logistics managers
- Site supply leads
- Sustainment program managers
- Repair depot planners
Illustrations
1 illustration of this concept. Select one to view it full size.
Retrograde Returns and the Exchange Pool
This illustration shows a light-themed Retrograde Returns page for unserviceable reparables across all sites, with Inventory selected in the sidebar. Tiles count units awaiting pickup, in transit, overdue returns in red and units received this week. An amber alert reports the transmission pool below its minimum and one site's returns overdue. A table sorted by serial lists item, site, removal date with work order, return-due date, status and action: two transmissions not picked up with Book pickup, an alternator in transit with Track, a packed voltage regulator with Confirm pickup and a transmission received at the depot with Open repair order. On the right, an Exchange pool card lists transmissions, alternators and starter motors on hand against their minimums, with chips noting removals from AssetHandler work orders and depot receipts opening ManufacturedOps repair orders. A timeline for the selected serial runs from removal to return due, flagged overdue and escalated to the site lead, above a Notify program office button. All data is sample data.
Topics
- retrograde returns tracking
- reparable carcass returns
- exchange pool management
- unserviceable parts return
- defense sustainment logistics
- rotable exchange tracking
- overdue carcass returns
- depot repair logistics
- reverse logistics for reparables
- spares pool minimum
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Part of an industry solution
This concept appears in a cross-product solution on burdenoff.com — see how it works alongside other Burdenoff products to solve a problem in that industry.
