| MIL-STD-130 spec and standards are approved | | | | consumables and part of controlled inventory, |
| by the DoD that provides insight and guidelines for | | | | item that are mission critical are eligible to be |
| implementation of the unique identification marking | | | | uniquely identified with a UII. |
| for the DoD assets. The standard is also | | | | Selection of UID Application Method |
| accepted by all the departments and agencies of | | | | There are basically 2 methods of UID application- |
| the DoD. The unique identification of the items is | | | | Direct part marking and application of UID labels. |
| marked to the item according to the specified | | | | According to the MIL-STD-130 specification the |
| standard. In fact, the MIL-STD-130 spec satisfies | | | | method of marking a part or item should be |
| the marking of the DoD items to be UID certified. | | | | selected on the basis of their requirements and |
| The standard also specifies the marking | | | | functionality. For instance, if the environment of a |
| technology formats of UID marking to maintain | | | | part is not suitable for direct part marking, the |
| balance between markings of different items | | | | application of UID label is the considered. However, |
| among the DoD. The process has simplified the | | | | the use of material in case of UID labels and the |
| item identification, item tracking and management | | | | marking method for the direct part marking |
| process for the departments across the DoD. | | | | should be decided carefully considering the |
| According to the MIL-STD-130 spec, all the | | | | important aspects. |
| government furnished property, legacy items, | | | | The Important Data Required for Unique |
| newly purchased items, item deliverables and item | | | | Identification |
| under the possession of the contractors should be | | | | The common data that are required for the |
| marked with unique identification. The UID is a set | | | | unique identification marking of the items are part |
| of data that contains necessary information about | | | | numbers, suppliers’ ID, serial numbers, |
| the particular part or the item. It is etched on the | | | | manufacturing method, etc. The MIL-STD-130 |
| item directly or applied as label. The information is | | | | spec requires that the UID data should be in 2D |
| entered in the form of 2D data matrix barcode | | | | data matrix code. The data are encoded and |
| and is identified with the help of a barcode | | | | entered to the item directly (in Direct part |
| scanner. | | | | marking) or entered on the UID nameplates or |
| The Items That Requires Unique Identification | | | | labels that are affixed to the items with the help |
| The MIL-STD-130 spec has mandated that the | | | | of adhesive or screws. It has also been mandated |
| items whose acquisition cost is more that $5000, | | | | that the UID data should contain human readable |
| that are managed by serial number, are | | | | data along with the machine-readable barcodes. |