IUID Blog

Air Force has recognized the logistics imperative of UID from the beginning. Now A2B is enabling the vigorous US Air Force UID part marking rollout around the globe. To date nearly 400,000 items have been marked with UID labels on 55 bases. A2B currently has 164 marking technicians working on forty-one bases. UID labels and plates used in this effort are manufactured at A2B headquarters under the Air Force EBS contract. (Read More)

What is eLog21? Here is an explanation from the eLog21 web site: “Expeditionary Logistics for the 21st Century…integrates and governs logistics transformation initiatives to ensure the warfighter receives the right support at the right place and the right time”. To learn more visit: http://www.af.mil/information/elog21/index.asp

My interpretation is that having equipment ready (or maintaining readiness) while managing costs is the highest priority. The message cites a logistical imperative for clear and consistent system transparency. That means that easily captured, highly accurate data on all systems and parts is critical. Enter UID. (Read More)

The world witnessed some of the earliest benefits of automated data capture technology in the form of bar code back in the 60’s.  Huge railroad cars would meander back and forth across the country with valuable contents that would be periodically misplaced while in transit.  Imagine a yard full of hundreds of railroad cars that look exactly alike and trying to find valuable contents such as a million dollars worth of equipment that must be routed to the correct destination. (Read More)

We just returned from visiting a major US Air Force base where we were amazed by the diverse categories of equipment that require an UID mark.  So many different surfaces and conditions challenge the marking effort.  For example, some conditions require that adhesives bond to a surface temperature up to 160° F. Other conditions required a material that could handle being covered in jet fuel.  Remember that the UID has to last the life of that item, once it’s applied. (Read More)

Within the military, the Air Force and the Marine Corps are leading the IUID implementation charge at this point. Each has a somewhat different approach, but the fundamentals are the same – getting the job done and doing it right. So what do they have in common that has led to widespread success? (Read More)