Photo By Senior Airman Jessica Sanchez-Chen | U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Deshawn White, 52nd Logistics Readiness Squadron...... read more read more
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SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany – The 52nd Logistics Readiness Squadron is embracing cutting-edge technology to enhance efficiency and streamline operations. A new Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system is set to revolutionize inventory management for individual protective equipment and material management, ultimately improving readiness for the 52nd Fighter Wing and U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa.
RFID enables near-instantaneous accountability of assets tagged with RFID chips. This technology allows for real-time tracking, minimizing discrepancies and reducing manual labor in inventory management.
LRS will utilize RFID to ensure real-time inventory accuracy of its essential mobility assets. This includes tracking specific lot and serial numbers to maintain precise records, particularly crucial for items with expiration dates.
Additionally, the system will streamline degraded operations tracking, which occurs when the standard supply system is offline.
"Supply regulations require a complete inventory of all assets stored by the Materiel Management Flight annually. This saves LRS roughly 5,200 hours annually for inventory counts and approximately 150 hours on additional research when discrepancies are found,” said U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Brandon Martinez, 52nd LRS IPE non-commissioned officer-in-charge. “Providing better accountability reduces time spent on researching discrepancies and balance adjustments, ultimately minimizing waste.”
The benefits extend beyond the LRS. The Wing will experience improved readiness by ensuring the accuracy of mobility asset inventories, allowing the IPE section to provide protective equipment efficiently. At the USAFE-AFAFRICA level, accurate and reliable inventory tracking enables bases to rapidly support other locations across the area of responsibility.
The initiative was first introduced by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Lauren Rogers, 52nd LRS IPE supervisor, who proposed the idea after observing RFID’s success at other Department of Defense installations, including Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. Once approved, Martinez coordinated with contractors to integrate the technology, oversee installation, provide training to personnel and ensure proper upkeep once the contractors depart.
Beyond LRS, RFID could enhance efficiency in multiple shops across the installation. “Any section that manages inventory of reusable assets could benefit,” explained Rogers. “Several agencies within the DoD already use this system for weapons accountability, and it could be expanded to track communications equipment, tools, vehicles, and shipments equipped with GPS-enabled RFID tags.”
Another key advantage of RFID implementation is the impact on mass mobilization processing. “We support several large troop movements per year,” said Martinez. “This technology allows us to build, deliver, transfer and return gear much more efficiently. When deploying 30 or more members in a single movement, issuing the right gear takes time. With RFID, we can scan a bag and instantly assign all items to a customer’s account, saving 5-10 minutes per customer. This efficiency accumulates to several hours per day, freeing up time for other critical tasks.”
By leveraging RFID, the 52nd LRS ensures a more efficient, accurate and responsive logistics system, ultimately enhancing combat readiness and mission success for the 52nd FW and USAFE.
| Date Taken: | 02.20.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 02.20.2025 03:26 |
| Story ID: | 491082 |
| Location: | SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, RHEINLAND-PFALZ, DE |
| Web Views: | 149 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Innovative RFID Technology Enhances Inventory Management at 52nd LRS, by SrA Jessica Sanchez-Chen, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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