Easier identification leads to easier maintainence

Photo By Cpl. Michael Curvin | A closer view of the Item Unique Identification matrix, found on a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected-All Terrain Vehicle, holds information pertaining to the vehicle?s repairs. Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan is scheduled to receive more than 500 of these vehicles over the next 60 days. Maintainers with MEB-Afghanistan will be able to better track vehicle repairs with the new IUID system.  

CAMP LEATHERNECK, AFGHANISTAN

11.17.2009

Story by Cpl. Michael Curvin 

2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Helmand province, Afghanistan — Most people are familiar with the frustration of standing at a checkout counter while a cashier flips a carton or package every which way, searching for a barcode to scan. After flipping your selection around like pizza dough, the cashier finally finds it with the telltale beep.

Barcodes are everywhere, even in the military - on the back of Department of Defense identification cards, on a sticker wrapped around mission essential gear and emblazoned on weapons and various vehicle parts.

To date, Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan has seen the introduction of three new vehicles that have more in common than most would think. The Assault Breacher Vehicle, Logistics Vehicle System-Replacement and the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected-All Terrain Vehicle all feature the Item Unique Identification, also known as IUID.

The IUID system is a progressive step taken by the Corps to provide up-to-date maintenance information, which can also be used to identify trends in vehicle breakdowns and weapons malfunctions.

"This new system allows maintainers to track equipment from the cradle to the grave," said Maj. Timothy M. Cooley, the maintenance management officer and ordnance officer with MEB-Afghanistan. From the time any piece of gear leaves the assembly line and is coded with the IUID matrix, it will carry information about repairs it has received and other information, such as warranties and where its parts originated. He said such a system might not seem that important, but the amount of time and money saved to get the gear back into the hands of Marines is significant.

"There are some improvements in the technology of the IUID data matrix that allow it to carry much more data than a standard barcode in a much smaller space," said Maj. Brian Spooner, an ordnance officer with the Life Cycle Management Branch for Logistics Plans, Policies and Strategic Mobility Division, Headquarters Marine Corps.

The matrix can be as little as 2 millimeters across, as opposed to older barcodes that can take up almost 10 times the space providing the same information as the new IUID system.

With linear barcodes, scanners can't read information if the barcode is damaged. The new matrix can be read even if it has been shattered, smashed or cracked. Scanners used for the matrixes are able to read the data no matter if the IUID is upside down or sideways.

"The most important benefit is that it can still be read with up to 30 percent of the matrix missing or damaged," Spooner said.

The impact IUID has had on motor transportation is astounding, considering its small size. The matrix tells maintenance Marines pertinent information involving past repairs and potential service contracts. By using a laptop and the appropriate software relevant to the vehicle or weapon, a Marine can access all the information he will need to correct problems and be proactive to remedy recurrent mechanical troubles.

"These systems can leverage IUID to access an item's maintenance history to provide expert troubleshooting of recurring problems, fixing the root cause, in addition to the symptoms," Spooner said. "When a failed part is removed during maintenance, the maintainer can be prompted that it is still covered for repair under warranty and provided applicable packaging and labeling information."

In addition to vehicles, weapons also feature the IUID data matrix. Many M16 and M4 service rifles have the matrix on their magazine wells.

"Every month, armorers have to take down every weapon and inventory it," Cooley said. "With this system, they'll be able to do it faster without taking weapons off the rack."

IUID saves time and will save taxpayer dollars as well. Keeping detailed repair records within the matrix can inspire future design changes based on analysis of trends in breakdowns and malfunctions, identifying problem areas or parts that may need retooling.

"This will help in making decisions about changes in the design or support for their equipment," Spooner said. "For a budget analyst, this knowledge of how our equipment is being used helps to develop more accurate budget requests and financial reports."

• Date Taken: 11.17.2009
• Date Posted: 11.30.2009 08:56
• Story ID: 42153
• Location: CAMP LEATHERNECK, AF