Implementing an in-Service F-16 Avionics Unique Item Identification Program

The Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics mandated the use of Unique Item Identification (UID) for all solicitations on or after January 1, 2004 for equipment, major modifications, and spares. This was only the first step toward uniquely identifying all DoD assets that meet certain cost and management criteria. Subsequent steps toward this goal include uniquely identifying DoD manufactured items as well as those assets currently in-service. The purpose of this research was to identify factors the F-16 Unique Items Supply Chain Manager should consider to implement an effective and efficient UID program for its F-16 avionics assets. The case study methodology was employed to capture lessons learned from previous in-service UID programs to evaluate alternative data label making and data label affixing strategies based on cost, timeliness, quality, and span of control. Research revealed a lack of senior leader support and poor communications as primary areas fro improvement for future UID in-service programs. Considerations regarding which assets to mark, where to mark each asset, the possible need to alter technical drawings and acquire new air worthiness certification must also be calculated before actual marking activities commence. Analysis also revealed obtaining data labels from a printer service bureau and applying them using a seek and mark marking strategy as attractive alternatives for an F-16 asset marking effort. Although specifically focused on F-16 assets, the findings of this research are applicable to other organizations trying to establish their own unique item identification program.Air Force Inst of Tech Wright-Patterson AFB OH School of Engineering and Management is the author of 'Implementing an in-Service F-16 Avionics Unique Item Identification Program', published 2003 under ISBN 9781423520603 and ISBN 1423520602.