IUID Blog

The need for property accountability for our US Department of Defense is extraordinary.  The thinking is simple: how can you budget and maintain equipment when you don’t know what you’ve got in the first place?  Mark an item, scan the item, and identify the location or custodian.  As we progress through 2012 we’ll see more legacy equipment accountability and inventory control application of IUID. (Read More)

Property accountability, a phrase that the Department of Defense uses frequently, is tough to understand.  I like to use a more simple reference:  “What do I have and where is it?”  IUID and barcode technology do a tremendous job of answering those questions, whether in a unit, a company or an enterprise.  (Read More)

We all wait in anticipation of “the rule.”  John Crowley, Senior Advisor for Patient Safety, Center for Devices and Radiological Health for the FDA, joked at the beginning of the UDI conference in November that we’re only two weeks away from releasing the rule and have been for almost six months now.  That became the running joke for the conference that often had the audience in hysterics. (Read More)

Over the past two years veterans have played a key role in A2B’s success.  All of us at A2B Tracking Solutions send a sincere thank you those veterans along with the 1.5 million men and women who are actively serving our country in every corner of the globe. Your sacrifice, like our gratitude, is beyond words. To all veterans and reservists who down through the decades have protected the freedoms we take for granted, thank you.    (Read More)

If you have ever doubted that accounting for personal property and equipment within the military is a hot topic, then take some time to watch this video from the House Armed Service Committee. (Read More)

When speaking to Rick Morgan from SCAN: The Data Capture Report a few days ago, he asked me about AIM Expo, among other topics.  I had barely enough time to digest the question when I heard myself saying that the entrepreneur in me wanted to start about ten new companies based on new developments in the industry.  It was an unfiltered response, but that’s when I recognized it was genuine.   (Read More)

I am heading out to Las Vegas this weekend to participate in the AIM Expo Conference and Exhibition, where AIT vendors will demonstrate their latest solutions and five learning tracks - government, retail, healthcare, manufacturing and the internet of things will provide comprehensive coverage of the latest in automatic ID and mobile IT. (Read More)

Since the inception of IUID policy back in 2003, the debate over encoding syntax with UID has raged on. Early in the adoption, what I’ll call the “engineering mindset” won the debate, which prompted many to choose construct 2 as their format of choice. Now that almost 8 years have passed, the practicality and direct experience involved in part marking has pushed construct 1 directly into the planning psyche. Both constructs are viable options for encoding the UID however this post will act as a recap of the two approaches to MIL STD 130 and UID encoding. (Read More)

Last week I talked about spreadsheets and how woefully inadequate they are for property management. I’ve actually come across large organizations that are managed by spreadsheet, and I have to say it’s like stepping back in time. The 1983 movie title “Risky Business” comes to mind. The first problem such companies face is the challenge of correct data entry, with the greatest impediment being an inability to fully incorporate auto ID. (Read More)

Last week I attended the National Property Management Associations’ national conference in Las Vegas. As typical, I presented to a broad audience of property professionals on the topic of UID and what the policy and technology means to the property manager. In preparation for the meeting, I found myself cramming in updates on UID and FAR policy as it applies to the property administrator. (I often get the cliff notes from Doug Goetz who is one of the most knowledgeable property professionals that I’ve ever met). During my session, I provided a brief policy update and then dove into best business practices for property identification and accountability. I focused on users preparing for auto ID technology or UID but don’t know where to start. More often than not, they’re managing property by spreadsheets and sometimes trying to manage property with spreadsheets at an enterprise level!

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