Tuesday, February 8, 2011

The Revolution Created by Gary Moe & ID-Integration

It is common to hear about Gary Moe & ID-integration especially where the military is concerned. Unique identification techniques are vital for any large businesses and the Department of Defense has taken full advantage of this fact. The department currently requires all government supplied properties in the possession of contractors or manufacturers to be marked to meet with the requirements set in place with the MIL STD 130, identification standard. To comply with the standards set, there are certain considerations that organizations must keep in mind.

Gary Moe and ID Integration solutions are very flexible; especially when it comes to the marking methodology that is applied for displaying these unique identifiers. There are a large number of compliant marking technologies including laser printing, ink jet printing, chemical etching, indenting, and labeling or tagging; among many others. In many cases, the marking is applied directly to the part itself rather than on a tag that may have a little less permanence.

There are particular standards that need to be met for the UID nomenclature used including stringent bar code specifications. All of these standards are easily met with the expertise and guidance of Gary Moe and ID-Integration. The identification marking that is used must be permanent; or at least last the full lifetime, or lifecycle, of a part or product. A lifecycle is often referred to as the complete maintenance cycle of a part.

Gary Moe and ID-Integration provide all the means of securing a MIL STD 130 compliant setup. From identification markers to bar code scanners and other production equipment – they have the necessary solutions for all your DoD needs. In some cases, a product or part may already contain a unique identification number. Examples of such products include a vehicle with its very specialized VIN number as well as a cell phone’s serial number. These items already possess unique identification, so they are not required to repeat this process for compliance. Often these UID’s are simply included in the data capture and analysis stages to ensure proper compliance in all facets of the DoD’s stringent requirements.

It is not always easy to comply, but Gary Moe & ID Integration makes it easier to get started and can assist a company by handling many of the challenging details involved. For the best results, many business owners believe it is important to seek a company that offers such professional integration services.

Criteria of MIL SPEC 130 & MIL-STD-130 Markings

According to the MIL SPEC 130 & MIL-STD-130 standards, identification requirements will typically vary. These variations are mostly associated with the different kinds of marking methods that may be used for identification and tracking of government property. Therefore, there are stringent requirements for all compliant MIL SPEC 130 & MIL-STD-130 identification and tracking – even on specified shipping containers.

A large requirement MIL SPEC 130 & MIL-STD-130 is placed on all shipping, or unit, containers. According to the standards under discussion, the markings must withstand the full shelf life of a given part or product. This is why they are placed on items that often deteriorate. These markings help to track the shelf life of a product. They will also indicate the date when the item should be tested and disposed of.

Unit containers must also have an NSN (National Stock Number) on the bar code. The details of the preservation methods, issued units, contract numbers, quantity, preservation date, item description, and part number must also be listed using plain text.

Finally, for these unit containers, or product markings, the MIL SPEC 130 & MIL-STD-130 standards also require the government or the manufacturer to assign unique serial numbers. This help in the identification and control of these units. They have to be assigned using clear and legible bar code formats.

MIL SPEC 130 & MIL-STD-130 requires that intermediate containers are marked or labeled in a similar manner to that of containers as discussed previously. However, there are a number of minor changes that are made in here for products that include a serial number. In the case where items that have been numbered serially exceed 5-digits in length, then, the MIL SPEC 130 & MIL-STD-130 rules for exterior containers will be used.

For exterior containers, the MIL SPEC 130 & MIL-STD-130 specifications make use of a labeling format that is basically similar to that of unit containers. However, there are a number of requirements. One of the exceptions is that the description field of the UID marking will not be required.

Still, one will need to keep in mind that the MIL SPEC 130 & MIL-STD-130 standards will require the manufacturer or the government to convert the NSN, the CAGE code, and the contract number, for representation in approved bar code format.

To conclude, it is possible to gain a basic understanding of the MIL SPEC 130 & MIL-STD-130 specs through the internet. Much of this information is available as a free resource provided by the government. However, it always helps any business stay ahead, when they hire experts, like UID2GO to consult with them on their UID marking solution and the complexities of MIL SPEC 130 specifications.