IUID Meets Legacy By: Rick Triviso, PG09/MCSC/USMC IUID Legacy Program Team Leader
The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is actively moving out on DoD’s directive to mark Legacy equipment across the Services. The Marine Corps Systems Command (MCSC) Product Group (PG) 09, Operational Forces Systems, has initiated a program to mark Mission Essential Legacy Ground Equipment. The inaugural Phase I, consists of 245 Table of Authorized Materiel Control Numbers (TAMCN) and over 200,000 Principal End Items (PEI) and identified associated assemblies/sub-assemblies, i.e., Secondary Reparables (SECREP).
The execution of this Legacy Program involves the development, staffing, equipping, and deployment of Mobile Marking Teams (MMTs) to each of the Major Commands, starting with Marine Forces Pacific Command and III Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF). This effort required the launch of a collaborative and coordinated team environment. The team made up of many parties, to include: General Dynamics Information Technologies/Claxton Logistics Services, United States Air Force’s Enterprise Barcode Service – Unique Item Identifiers (UII) labels; A2B equipment & support; and pilot UII marking efforts (small weapons).
Benefits of implementing an IUID program are numerous and multifaceted. The majority of these benefits stem from the capability to utilize fully automated systems, achieved through the data inherent to the execution of an IUID program. Automation provides increased data quality via a reduction in manual entry and transcription errors, and improved item and asset visibility across functional areas and multiple databases via decreased administrative error and processing time. The result is a greater degree of confidence and trust by decision makers across the Marine Corps.
Many steps and processes are critical to this Legacy Program. The program started with the collection, documentation, and validation of pedigree data collection for each of the PEIs identified for marking during Phase I. The second step in the process: Engineering Analysis, served as a critical element as it identified mark location, type, size, and adhesive requirements. A Market Research/Analysis was conducted to look at what industry could provide in way of lasers, scanners, verifiers, and integrated marking equipment solutions. Requirements for scanners, verifiers, lasers, and label types and adhesives were developed, and identified the need for an Integrated Marking Cart (IMC) to successfully support the mobile marking efforts. The IMC is made up of a laser, scanner, verifier, and operating software. Requirements were established to ensure the IMC selected would meet all of the functional capabilities in various remote locations. Requirements identified included: operational, functional, performance, use and feel, environmental, and throughput capacity. A2B’s IMC was selected via MCSC/GSA acquisition process. Since the award, A2B has exemplified the essence of team work and provided MCSC with phenomenal service and support. n addition to the timely delivery of the IMCs, A2B also provided on-site training on the equipment and software for the MMT.
The III MEF Mobile Marking effort is currently underway. Once marked, the UII will be registered in the DoD IUID registry. An important follow-on step to IUID marking of the equipment is the storage and management of all IUID data. This will be done via the USMC Temporary Data Storage (TDS) and repository until the new Marine Corps Global Combat Support System (GCSS- MC) becomes operational.
Coordination required for integration of IUID efforts throughout the Marine Corps for the marking of legacy ground equipment, registering the UIIs, and incorporating of the data into USMC AIS and GCSS-MC dictates an office of primary responsibility to be established. PG 09 is this office for the USMC. PG 09 will coordinate with HQMC Deputy Commandant, I&L to identify funding requirements to support the IUID Legacy ground equipment marking program as well as moving forward to marking ALL USMC Legacy types of equipment, i.e., controlled/serial item management items, etc..
Moving beyond current policy will further position the USMC to reap the continued and proven benefits of IUID and its associated business processes: increase data quality across functional areas—once fully automated, supply and maintenance personnel in the Fleet Marine Force (FMF) will see improved item visibility across databases—and a corresponding decrease in administrative errors and a reduction of processing time.
IUID provides a critical common link between total life cycle management, sense and respond logistics, and network centric warfare. This is very good for the Marine Corps. As the MMT deploys and commences marking at III MEF, lessons will be learned and modification requirements will be identified and addressed.
Paramount to future success is the establishment and continuation of a collaborative and coordinated environment for the entire team. Our Legacy Program has proven this, and we’ll continue to refine our processes, equipment, software, and teamwork in order to execute at the highest level of success.
About the Author
Rick Triviso is a government civilian working for the Marine Corps Systems Command, Product Group 9, Operational Forces Systems, He is currently the Project Lead for the IUID Legacy Ground Equipment Program. Mr. Triviso is leading the effort to meet DoD’s IUID requirement to mark all legacy equipment by 31 December 2010. The IUID Legacy Program will IUID mark all of the Mission Essential Legacy Ground Principal End Items (PEIs), and designated associated Secondary Reparable (SECREPs), currently inventoried at USMC Major Commands: I, II, & III MEF. He also served for thirty years in the United States Marine Corps as an active duty Chief Warrant Officer (CWO) 5, as an Engineer and Utilities officer.
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