| The US Department of Defense (DoD) has | | | | (IAC). Other data components, like the unit |
| attempted to increase its data quality, accuracy | | | | acquisition cost, can be used in accounting |
| and visibility with the Unique Identifier (UID) | | | | documents for DoD financial management. |
| registry. On July 29, 2003, Acting Under | | | | UID Registry Purpose |
| Secretary of Defense Michael Wynne stated that | | | | The UID registry permits consolidation of |
| the goal of the UID system was to assist in DoD | | | | equipment data for DoD purposes. This |
| item tracking and asset management. The UID | | | | government classification system has been |
| registry is the database storage area for all | | | | gradually built up over time by requiring different |
| tangible items that make up the barcode | | | | vendor numbers for government contractors |
| identification system for military property. | | | | involved in military procurement. The UID registry |
| The UID registry is the storage repository for | | | | attempts to create one key database for storage |
| military property with barcode markings. This | | | | of item information in order to streamline the |
| system enables the DoD to track, update and | | | | government contractor registration system. |
| record important information related to the these | | | | Standardization across the entire DoD |
| items. If a product recall were to occur, the UID | | | | government procurement system is established |
| registry could be used for replacement of | | | | by the UID registry, which will lead to improved |
| defective equipment. | | | | item, finance and asset management. Auditing |
| Just like many large organizations, the DoD runs | | | | checks can be performed more easily with this |
| numerous software and hardware platforms. The | | | | uniform system. Military property, spread across |
| UID registry is a central clearing house to ensure | | | | the entire world, can be made more tangible with |
| standardization of data across all computing | | | | the UID registry. |
| systems. The Defense Logistics Information | | | | UID Registry Importance |
| Service (DLIS) maintains the UID registry. | | | | Accountants can update financial depreciation |
| Barcode markings permit the DoD to track | | | | records with the lifecycle management tool - the |
| equipment, so they will always know its | | | | UID registry. In the end, the UID registry should |
| whereabouts. Updates can be made to database | | | | lead to reduced costs (improved financial |
| records; administrators can perform useful queries | | | | management), due to a better understanding and |
| and searches based on the data components of | | | | more efficient approach to long-term inventory |
| the UID: type, contract and Issuing Agency Code | | | | management. |