AUTOMATED INVENTORY CONSTRAINTS
to properly inform commanders of assets in transit. Te U.S. military has the world’s largest active radio frequency in-transit visibility network, spanning 41 countries with 1,749 RFID tag read-and-write sites and more than 570 satellite-enabled track- ing systems. Passive RFID, an electronic identification technology comprising a chip and antenna imbedded within a label, is also used in the defense supply chain but is not designed to carry large amounts of data and is not currently approved for use on ammunition and missiles.
In the continental United States, AIT suites support the receipt of sustainment supplies and equipment in the Army’s organic industrial base, comprising 23 manufacturing arsenals, mainte- nance depots and ammunition plants. Te AIT suite can be used to track the inventory in short- or long-term storage awaiting issue to units. U.S. Transportation Command, which leads the joint deployment and distribution enterprise and is the proponent for AIT and in-transit visi- bility, has been looking for additional ways to take strategic advantage of AIT to support commanders who have to make logistics decisions in tactical and operational missions.
One of the most important functions of AIT at theater ammunition supply points is the ability to process serial numbers, using handheld terminal bar code readers, on items such as guided missiles and large rockets during receipt and inventory of ammunition material. Te use of AIT can reduce a full day of checking serial numbers to a matter of a few minutes, freeing person- nel to perform other critical tasks.
IMPLEMENTATION OF AIT Te Joint Ordnance Commanders Group, a flag and general officer forum in which
96 Army AL&T Magazine Summer 2019
all the services’ conventional ammu- nition stakeholders jointly define and improve munitions management systems and execution, has an AIT subgroup that in 2011 implemented joint ammunition package label specification. Te objective was to streamline bar code processing and effectively use AIT to enhance tracking systems and standardize labeling and tasks.
Te Army has created a policy to procure AIT suites and have them available at theater ammunition storage activities through the system managed by the Product Lead for Logistics Information Systems under the Program Executive Office for Enterprise Information Systems. However, the Army faces many chal-
AIT can replicate bar code data, reduc- ing the risk of keystroke errors that can create shortages and take time for inven- tory personnel to correct. Additionally, AIT can help monitor how responsive the supply chain is to commanders’ require- ments for battlefield munitions.
Together, those systems can provide the in-transit visibility that the military
requires; commanders will have the critical information they need.
lenges in adopting new technology of value to ammunition management, such as network constraints and a lack of train- ing on the use of AIT.
Te ability to use AIT and integrate it with military ammunition systems is the key to AIT’s rapid acceptance. Its primary use is to facilitate data management in the areas of cost, processing time and data accuracy.
AIT UNDERUSED IN THE FIELD Te Army uses the Standard Army Ammu- nition System (SAAS) as its web-based ammunition system to provide accurate, real-time stock status in a theater of oper- ations. Te ammunition system is used at the point of issue and management levels. Te real-time transfer of data makes the management of munitions more precise and satisfies the commander’s requirements for tactical informa- tion on conventional ammunition. While the system offers the ability to track munitions on hand, it relies on personnel to manually receive and inventory ammunition, a time- consuming process. At the same time, the units have AIT on hand but are not able to use it.
Te total cost of the AIT suite is approximately $19,000 for a system at an ammunition supply point and $8,000 for a system at a unit ammunition transfer and holding point. Generally speaking, these prices are on the low end compared with the newer technology currently available through the indefinite-
delivery, indefinite-quantity contracts for AIT. Te equipment is authorized to 55 support battalions and 18 ordnance sections. Despite a sizable investment of about $782,000 in handheld terminals and portable printers for forward ammu- nition support activities, Soldiers in the field are not able to use the AIT equip- ment to conduct inventories or receipts. It remains underused, or not used at all.
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