ARMY AL&T


AUTOMATED INVENTORY


CONSTRAINTS


Automatic identification technology improves speed and accuracy of logging ammunition supplies, but Soldiers in forward theaters can’t use it.


by Chief Warrant Officer 3 Michael K. Lima O


ne of the advancing capabilities in sustainment operations is that of auto- matic identification technology (AIT), which can increase the accuracy of


inventory records by automating the required data collection and enabling transmission of the data to and from military systems.


Te Army has implemented the use of AIT as its inventory control technology of choice. But the equipment sits unused in forward theaters because of outdated policies, network constraints and a lack of training.


Te AIT suite encompasses a variety of data storage and carrier technologies such as one-dimensional linear bar codes and two-dimensional (2D) symbols. Te AIT suite can be combined with other technol- ogies, such as active radio frequency identification (RFID), and can be used to read the stored data of equipment such as military vehicles and materiel


in intermodal containers. Together, those systems can provide the in-transit visibility that the mili- tary requires; commanders will have the critical information they need to track unit cargo and sustainment materiel through the supply chain, from production to forward storage areas.


An example of how AIT works in our everyday life: Order a package at Amazon.com, and Amazon will track it from the distribution center to you. Te bar code on the package enables this, and can provide virtually instant confirmation of delivery. Similar labeling and scanners within Amazon’s facilities enable inventory management. Tis technology benefits asset management by informing Amazon. com that the item has reached its destination and allowing the company to see how many are still available to order.


Te military sustainment community uses this tech- nology extensively, providing sustainers the ability


https://asc.ar my.mil 95


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118  |  Page 119  |  Page 120  |  Page 121  |  Page 122  |  Page 123  |  Page 124  |  Page 125  |  Page 126  |  Page 127  |  Page 128  |  Page 129  |  Page 130  |  Page 131  |  Page 132  |  Page 133  |  Page 134  |  Page 135  |  Page 136  |  Page 137  |  Page 138  |  Page 139  |  Page 140  |  Page 141  |  Page 142  |  Page 143  |  Page 144  |  Page 145  |  Page 146  |  Page 147  |  Page 148  |  Page 149  |  Page 150  |  Page 151  |  Page 152  |  Page 153  |  Page 154  |  Page 155  |  Page 156