TRACKING SOLUTIONS

UID QUARTERLY: SPRING 2008

INTRODUCTIONWe welcome you to the UID Quarterly Spring 2008 Edition, brought to you by A2B Tracking Solutions as an educational service. In this issue you will find several timely articles. We encourage you to read on for the very latest in UID developments.

What you’ll find in this issue:

UID Success - You’ll want to read this new case study to learn how one large army depot process became UID compliant. You’ll read about their learning experience and explore the decisions that led to their solution path. A major take-away is that army depots are learning UID best practice from each other.

UID Solutions - “Life-cycle Events and Government Furnished Property – a Tutorial”

This tutorial is presented by A2B Tracking Solutions as an aid to custodians of GFP. When you read this you’ll understand the importance of total life-cycle management to the integrity of the IUID Registry.

Opinion - The theme of lifecycle management within the DoD is expanded upon by LMI Research Fellow Ron Durant in his paper, “Transitioning Unique Identification to an Automated Serialized Item Management Information Capability.”

UID Support - Learn about a special Web Seminar sponsored by Zebra Technologies and A2B Tracking and featuring a live case study presented by Dan Andress of SRCtec, a company that is blazing the way in UID compliance.

UID Education - View a full schedule of UID Web Seminars, hosted by Data Capture Institute President and bar code pioneer David Collins as well as UID/RFID Web Seminar co-sponsored by epcSolutions and A2B Tracking.

News from A2B Tracking - Find out what has been going on at A2B.

UID SUCCeSS:IUID Compliance Takes Shape at Army Depot*

John Arnold pulled through the gates of the vast army depot, on a cloudless Monday morning, aware of a new challenge he was facing. Late in the previous week he was informed of a new directive spelled out in MIL-STD-130, the need to uniquely identify items flowing through his department. As Directorate of Maintenance he knew that the stringent IUID requirements would apply to the vehicles his crew repairs and sends back into the field. The question of how to solve this new challenge had lingered with him all weekend.

Once John began to investigate he knew he had lots of company. His peers in other depots were equally puzzled about how to solve this “pain in the neck” requirement. In the beginning they went to various automatic identification (AIT) and IUID Forums to learn more about IUID. “The

Forums that were hosted by the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) and conducted at various depots already implementing or starting the IUID implementation process were the most helpful,” he says. “These provided us with good insight into what to expect and helped us to avoid some of the problems that other depots had encountered when

implementing their programs.”

John’s team first researched the IUID technology available at the time and decided they wanted a turnkey system that would handle all the steps for compliance - create the UII, mark the item, verify and validate the mark and submit the information to the IUID Registry. “When we talked with people from other depots who had tried to design their own systems, they told us their efforts didn’t work out. So we decided to save time by buying a good system and then we just started marking.”

John says his team selected A2B Tracking Solutions’ UID Comply!® Software not only because it was the best UID data management software product for their legacy environment, but also because of the knowledge and responsiveness of the company’s staff. Even though John makes the implementation sound simple, there was a great deal of engineering planning and expertise, along with installation and training that made it possible for his team to “just start marking.”

A2B engineering personnel made several onsite visits to assess technical considerations including IUID plate design, marking options and the IUID registration process. Currently there are 40 separate items that require marking, although that number is growing steadily as the TACOM (Tank and Automotive Command) program manager identifies additional items. It was soon determined that several marking methods would be required, due to the variety of materials and the environment to which items are exposed.

John’s team creates vehicle data plates and parts data tags for Humvees and trailers that come in from the field for overhaul and repair. Because his process requires a variety of marking options, he set up an IUID Lab, where UID Comply! Software drives YAG and CO2 flat bed lasers as well as Metalphoto®, and dot peen marking systems. UID Comply! also provides verification and validation via a Siemens verifier and a Siemens Hawkeye scanner.

In all, seven functions within the depot (hydraulic shop, electronics shop, etc) are impacted by the IUID process. When parts need to be tagged, each area provides a list of tags they require, and the IUID Lab produces the tags and sends them to back for affixing. The part and serial numbers which are included in the part tag are linked with the vehicle plate in a parent/child relationship. An XML file is created in

UID Comply! and the IUID data from the vehicle data plate is electronically transferred to the IUID Registry utilizing A2Bs VAN (value added network) service. The VAN service saves an enormous amount of time by eliminating time-consuming manual entry and the inevitable data entry errors. Another advantage of the VAN is that prior to sending the IUID data to the IUID Registry, the data is “scrubbed” to make sure that any imported legacy data from other systems meet the IUID Registry schema requirements.

Now that John has successfully implemented IUID he no longer thinks of it as a “pain in the neck” but sees the big picture and the potential for being able to track the military’s assets from cradle to grave. When the other maintenance systems at his depot are set up, he plans to implement Serialized Item Management (SIM) by tracking

all items, internally, throughout the re-assembly process.

When asked what advice he has for others who need to manage IUID, John suggests going to other depots to see first-hand how they are handling compliance. “You can skip a lot of pitfalls when you see a streamlined system,” he says.

As for A2B Tracking, John has nothing but praise. “Anytime we need

to change something, A2B is very responsive, and their support is really excellent.”

Now, when he drives into the depot, John views the vast stockpile of materiel differently. He understands that, because of IUID, the day is fast approaching when there will be visibility behind every wall and indeed inside every asset within the military’s Wide Area Workflow. That granular visibility creates efficiencies unimagined in military history, and John knows that he is at the cutting edge of something big.

*The facts in this case study are completely accurate. The identity of the depot is not revealed for security and other reasons.

UID SOlUTIONS:Life-cycle Events and Government Furnished Property – a Tutorial

UID Compliance is more than just assigning the mark and notifying the IUID Registry. Full compliance also includes ongoing item maintenance and end-of-life disposition, events that require updates and reporting to the Registry.

Let’s take a look at the life-cycle events. The Registry currently accepts 22 different events for removing items from the DoD’s inventory. The events can be broken down into three different categories: 1) disbursement, 2) disposal and 3) a generic category of release and reintroduce. Disbursement includes exchanges and selling of

the item to another entity. Disposal includes the destruction or permanent dissolution of items. The third category includes the retirement or declaring excess along with the

re-introduction. With each of these life-cycle events, there is a corresponding set of supporting documentation required when submitting data to the IUID Registry.

Regardless of the category, the goal is to update the Registry as these items are removed from inventory. Without this purging, the DoD’s IUID Registry would be bloated with items that have been destroyed or removed from inventory and Registry data would be inflated.

Leverage the Mark to Manage GFP Life-cycle Events Data management is a must, not only to ensure compliance with UID policy, but also for proper tracking of all custodial items. With the correct data management tool, you will be able to track the life-cycle of all items within your custody, enabling the reporting of changes to the Registry. Collected data not only allows you to correctly report on items at the end of a fiscal year but also creates an audit trail.

Once you complete the first stage of compliance, which is the assignment of UIIs as well as physically marking the items, you should take advantage of the mark to handle the following events: inventory movement, change of contract records, return to government and life-cycle reporting. Each transaction involves changing the asset’s custody record along with a Registry update. It is your responsibility to ensure that the Registry has a current list of items in your custody at a given time.

When you record one of the transactions mentioned above, take advantage of the mark by scanning it and then recording the action appropriately. This should be a requirement of any data management tool created to help manage the life-cycle of a UID marked item.

Total Life-Cycle Management The ability to track the full life-cycle of each IUID should be a primary consideration in your UID implementation plan. This includes the creation of the IUID, the management of kitting or parent/child relationships, the maintenance actions that may occur to the item, the end of life of the item, and all the Registry transactions that go with these stages.

The important aspect of the system is not only to keep track of the stages of the UID life-cycle but to allow for the reporting of each stage. The end of the life-cycle and removal from DoD inventory is only one step, but it is critical in ensuring an eventual goal of the DoD IUID Registry - visibility of all items within the DoD inventory.

Other aspects of full life-cycle management include the maintenance activity on assets with IUIDs. This would include a change in embedded relationships as parts to a larger assembly are changed, when they malfunction. This action will involve a combination of a change of embedded status on the original part as well as a life-cycle event to take that part out of use, followed by an embedded transaction to incorporate the new part. This creates the visibility of the actual assembly at any point during its life-cycle.

All of this comes back to utilization of the UID mark. As parts are removed, added or disposed of, the part should be scanned to report the appropriate action, ensuring that transactions are assigned to the appropriate items. This removes the need for data entry and the high likelihood of errors that accompany data entry. The ideal scenario is for the items to already be within the UID database you are using so you have the full life-cycle history.

OpINION:Transitioning Unique Identification to an Automated Serialized Item Management Information Capability

by Ron Durant

Although there still are a few bumps left in the road, it is safe to say that the Department of Defense (DoD) is making great progress in its Item Unique Identification (IUID) marking and registering efforts. As the DoD now looks to integrate IUID into its business processes, one aspect appears common in all implementation efforts: the need to develop effective automated information systems (AISs) that can extract the maximum benefits of implementing IUID. Ostensibly, effectual AIS capability is developed based on the functionality needed by the user. In the case of DoD materiel management, this functional capability is moving towards comprehensive management of certain unique assets throughout all their pertinent lifecycle events.

Comprehensive lifecycle management was not possible before now because of the limitations of past and current AIS capabilities and the lack of enterprise-wide IUID. Paper-based systems were just too onerous and inaccurate. But today we are at the nexus of a keen management desire, wartime necessity, and affordable technical

opportunity. This is recognized and represented in the recently released DoD Instruction (DODI) 4151.19, Serialized Item Management (SIM) for Materiel Maintenance. DODI 4151.19 requires that critical items be identified, selected,

and marked with IUID. More importantly, it also requires that pertinent lifecycle data critical to the effective management of those items be generated, collected, and analyzed in order to improve reliability, safety, readiness, and operational support costs for those items. As a consequence, large scale SIM implementation is hugely dependent upon efficient and effective AISs that will serve these critical analytical functions.

Intelligent, analytical processing can be built as an automated feature of the AIS or it may be developed and organized as a human procedure. In either case, the ability to process SIM data for other management purposes is a key point. But how does the DoD make the leap from implementing IUID to achieving a full SIM capability?

To lessen its complicated appearance, SIM can be simply described as three easily defined layers. Each layer establishes a functionality for SIM that ultimately achieves and supports enhanced lifecycle and asset management. These three layers are:

The data capture layer that records lifecycle events and other functional information and then associates it to a subject IUID.

The enterprise integration layer that provides cross-functional visibility of data and feeds the required analysis support and decision support mechanisms.

The analysis layer that converts SIM data into actionable information for operations and sustainment purposes, and provides key business information needed for effective decision-making support of all lifecycle management processes.

These three layers remain constant across the information system enterprise and constitute a baseline structure that aligns all aspects and supporting elements of an information system into a hierarchy of functionality.

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Regarding the use of IUID and other automatic identification technologies (AITs), it is the performance requirements of the AIS that determine the extent and use of data-capture techniques and processes. These range from “high-tech” IUID and AIT readers, to self-reporting systems, to manual keystroke entry. Based on the level of data capture, the AIS must then apply specific business rules to ensure items are accurately processed in accordance with their assigned management traits. Figure 1 illustrates the alignment and functions of each of the three layers as they support a military service and the DoD enterprises.

Data Capture Layer: As illustrated in Figure 1, SIM items within the data capture layer are associated with data attributes and relevant lifecycle events via the IUID. This is depicted by the magnifying glass and the “eye of visibility” that symbolizes the view “behind” the uniquely identified item and the attributes of that item which characterize its uniqueness. IUID and attribute data are passed to the AIS, which is also depicted as the maintenance management information system (MMIS) and supply management information system (SMIS). Attributes can be any quantifiable measure of performance, time, space, composition, environment, pedigree, and cost, or other definable data, such as historical, contractual, or ownership information associations. The data capture layer contains the IUID-AIT infrastructure and SIM data feeds from all relevant DoD activities, inter-government organizations, and their supporting contractors. Consistent and reliable data capture is absolutely vital to SIM processes within an enterprise.

Figure 1. SIM System Layers

Enterprise Integration Layer: Captured data is integrated and dispersed in the enterprise integration layer, which supports all functions (business, operational, logistics, research, etc.) of the military service and DoD enterprises. Although we are already moving toward enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, the enterprise integration layer is still very complicated—it entails interfacing many disparate systems, processes, and standards across perpetually changing operational and business environments. There is no “big bang” implementation event here; the transition to the envisioned end-state IUID-SIM environment proceeds in incremental phases that maximize immediate results while carefully maintaining long-term strategic planning objectives and goals. The speed at which IUID-SIM processes and data can be successfully integrated within the military service and DoD enterprise information system(s) is dependent on the potential ability for this system to produce positive outcomes. These expected outcomes set additional requirements for the information system and introduce the analysis layer of SIM.

Analysis Layer: The analysis layer is the primary benefit-producing tier for SIM. SIM is the point where lifecycle data about uniquely identified items, tracked through their relevant lifecycle events, are converted into actionable information for effective decisional support and better business intelligence. The analysis layer is a very significant requirement of the envisioned end state for IUID-SIM and its supporting information system. It is

where necessary reports and analytical information (such as past maintenance actions and malfunction data) enable better prediction of materiel readiness and can identify cost drivers and reliability information. These data then feed several functional processes that provide actionable information and decision support needed to improve:

Mission management;

Asset visibility from the point of manufacture to the point of use, consumption, or disposal;

Parts demand planning;

Acquisition procedures;

Maintenance management;

Training; and

Supply chain management (SCM).

All three layers communicate pertinent data and event histories through the supporting infrastructure. Because all layers are connected and begin to form actionable information for the warfighter, and decision support for those supporting the warfighter, the overall goal of best readiness at the best possible cost is achieved, as illustrated in Figure 2.

Consequently, SIM directly defines both the Data Capture and the Analysis requirements for an expected capability

and outcome. This in turn defines how the AIS must perform relative to its integration within an enterprise, which defines the infrastructure requirements for that system. Consequently, AIS development must consider SIM in the context of a system’s functional capability and not just as an incidental technology feature. If system developers fail to do so, they risk not reaping the maximum achievable benefits of implementing IUID within the DoD.

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Figure 2. Data Flow Among SIM Layers

UID aND RFID eDUCaTIONal Web SemINaRS:In our quest to provide ongoing education to those who are implementing UID and RFID we offer the following two seminar series:

Data Capture InstituteDavid Collins, President of Data Capture Institute, has been engaged by A2B to present a series of UID Web Seminars

as a non-commercial, educational service to those who are required to implement UID.

David is considered by many to be the “father of the bar code industry” having led the original bar code project, KarTrack, for Sylvannia in 1969 and later founding Computer Identics Corp, the first company to manufacturer bar code scanners. Over the years Collins and his team have overseen thousands of bar code installations around the world. He is author of the popular 1992 book, “Using Bar Code – Why It’s Taken Over” and is a frequent keynote speaker and automatic data collection seminar presenter. As a member of the UID integrated product team (IPT) he is uniquely qualified to respond to the questions and concerns of companies of all sizes, including large, multi-national enterprises as they grapple with UID implementation.

Upcoming UID Web Seminar Dates (Presented each day at 2:00 Eastern) May 27 June 24 July 10

To register for any of these dates, email pchasse@a2btracking.com or click on this link: http://www.uidsolutions.com/webinar_signup.aspx

RFID, UID and WAWF Webinar by A2B Tracking and epcSolutions epcSolutions, the authors of ThingsNet, the platform for the Internet of Business and the most installed

Wal-Mart RFID solutions, and A2BTracking Solutions are teaming up to offer a webinar for RFID/UID solutions.

During this webinar you will receive a complete briefing on where UID and RFID came from and why it is important to the DoD and to you. You will also receive a simple, straightforward explanation of UID and RFID labeling, verification, validation and uploading to the Wide Area Workflow (WAWF) and IUID Registry. Bar code and RFID experts from A2B and epcSolutions Inc. will also present a live demonstration of UID Comply!® software and RFIDTagManager.

Upcoming RFID, UID and WAWF Webinar Dates (Presented at 2:00 Eastern) May 29 June 26

UID SUppORT:We are pleased to announce a special free webinar, co-sponsored by Zebra Technologies Corporation and A2B Tracking. During this one-hour, live, case study you will hear first hand, from Dan Andress, IT Manager at SRCTec Inc., how he and his team staged their successful UID implementation. Here is some of what you will learn:

The search for education and solutions.

The early logistics for marking subassemblies and embedded items.

The response to DCMA requirements for registering of legacy embedded data.

Printing and remarking when vendor marks failed validation.

How the UID process was modified and broken into stages

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Technology choices and deployment.

The future of UID at SRCTec

If you are curious to hear what others are doing to satisfy UID requirements, don’t miss this great opportunity.

Upcoming UID Webinar Dates (Presented each day at 2:00 Eastern) Thursday, May 22 Tuesday, June 10

To reserve your seat, email pchasse@a2btracking.com

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UID QUARTERLY - A2B TRACKING SOLUTIONS - SPRING 2008207 HIGHPOINT AVENUE, PORTSMOUTH, RI 02871TEL: 800-733-7592 | 401-683-5215 | FAX: 401-683-5219 | WWW.UIDSOLUTIONS.COM

NeWS aND aNNOUNCemeNTS FROm a2b TRaCkINg:Latest Press Releases

5/13/2008 - A2B Tracking Announces New Release of UID Comply!® for GFP PORTSMOUTH, RI (April 30, 2008) - A2B Tracking Solutions Inc, the leading provider of unique identification (UID) compliance products and services, is announcing the release of UID Comply!® v1.5.3.0 data management software for GFP (government furnished...

4/24/2008 - A2B Tracking Solutions and Zebra Technologies to Team for UID Webinar PORTSMOUTH, RI (April 24, 2008) - A2B Tracking Solutions Inc, the leading provider of unique identification (UID) compliance products and services, is announcing a jointly sponsored webinar, on May 22 and June 10, featuring defense contractor SRCTec Inc....

4/3/2007 - A2B Tracking Solutions Announces Two UID Comply!® Updates PORTSMOUTH, RI (March 24, 2008) - A2B Tracking Solutions Inc, the leading provider of unique identification (UID) compliance products and services, is announcing the release of two new versions of UID Comply!® during the first quarter of 2008...

Upcoming Events

We hope to meet many of you in Sacramento, June 17-18 at our booth # 38. When you stop by to have your badge scanned, you become eligible to win a free iPod.

A2B President Peter Collins will be speaking during the NPMA National Education Seminar, July 28-31 in Reno, NV.

A2B’s Marc Corriveau will speak on May 13 to the NPMA North Atlantic Chapter at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA.

707 Users Conference Marc Corriveau is also scheduled to speak at the 707 Users Conference, May 6-8 in Daytona Beach, FL.