GID 96 Code Structure
10.4 IMPLEMENTATION
The.cost.of.implementing.and.operating.RFID.technology.is.considered.a.normal.cost.of.business..
If.DOD.customers.desire.the.inclusion.of.a.passive.RFID.tag.on.shipments.for.these.type.purchases,.
this.requirement.must.be.specifically.requested.of.the.shipping.supplier/vendor.and.the.shipment.
must.be.accompanied.by.an.appropriate.advanced.shipment.notification.(ASN).containing.the.ship- ment.information.associated.to.the.appropriate.RFID.tag.
All.solicitations.awarded.on.or.after.October.1,.2004.for.delivery.of.material.on.or.after.January.
1,.2005.will.require.that.passive.RFID.tags.be.affixed.at.the.case,.pallet,.and.UID.item.packag- ing.level.for.material.delivered.to.the.DOD,.in.accordance.with.the.implementation.plan,.which.is.
located.above.under.the.section.entitled:.“Implementation.Approach.”.The.plan.can.also.be.found.at.
http://www.dodrfid.org/supplierimplementationplan.htm
The.DOD.is.implementing.RFID.in.three.phases,.and.is.in.Phase.2.as.of.July,.2007..Passive.
RFID.tags.on.cases.and.pallets.shipped.to.specified.DOD.receiving.points,.including.all.the.defense.
distribution.depots,.for.the.following.item.supply.classes:
Class I:.Subsistence.limited.to.packaged.operational.rations.(meals.ready.to.eat.[MREs].).used.to.
be.called.C-Rations.or.C-rats
Class II:.Clothing,.individual.equipment,.tentage,.organizational.tool.kits,.hand.tools,.and.adminis- trative.and.housekeeping.supplies.and.equipment
0 0 1
2 F 0 2 0 3 2 5
3
D
3
F D C 1 C 3 5
1 3 9 3 4 2
1 1 1 1
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0
1 1 1 1 1
1 1 1
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
1 1 1 1 1
0 1
FIGURE 10.1 Binary.to.hexadecimal.conversion.
UID and RFID Standards for Military 127 Class III:.Packaged.petroleum.fuels,.lubricants,.hydraulic.and.insulating.oils,.preservatives,.liquid.
and.gas,.bulk.chemical.products,.coolants,.deicer.and.antifreeze.compounds,.components.and.addi- tives.of.petroleum.and.chemical.products.and.coal
Class IV:. Construction. material. including. installed. equipment. and. all. fortification. and. barrier.
material
Class VI:.Personal.demand.items.such.as.snack.foods,.beverages,.cigarettes,.soap,.toothpaste,.writ- ing.material,.cameras,.batteries,.and.other.nonmilitary.sale.items
Class VIII:.Medical.materials.(except.pharmaceuticals,.biologicals,.and.reagents)
Class IX:.Repair.parts.and.components.including.kits,.assemblies.and.subassemblies,.reparable.and.
consumable.items.required.for.maintenance.support.of.all.equipment,.excluding.medical-peculiar.
repair.parts
Pharmaceuticals,.biologicals,.and.reagents.are.not.required.to.have.RFID.tags.at.this.time..The.
DOD.will.follow.the.FDA.RFID.rules.for.these.materials.when.they.are.finalized..Class V.(munitions/
explosives).is.also.not.required.to.have.passive.RFID.tags.at.this.time.until.compatibility.tests.have.
been.conducted.
The.DOD.RFID.Web.site.www.dodrfid.org.has.a.Class.of.Supply.Lookup.Tool,.which.can.be.
used.to.determine.an.item’s.supply.class.by.using.the.national.stock.number.(NSN).
Figure.10.2.shows.the.RFID.tag.placement.as.required.in.Phase.2..For.the.pallet.tag,.the.require- ments.in.MIL-STD-129P.specify.the.tag.to.be.placed.32–48.in..from.the.bottom.of.the.pallet..It.
should.not.be.placed.directly.on.the.pallet,.since.this.may.be.too.low.for.tag.readability.(DCMAC-JP.
RFID.DOD.UIDTask8).
The.third.phase.of.the.RFID.implementation.plan.is.to.include.tags.on.the.unit.packs.of.items.
that.fall.under.the.UID.requirements..The.RFID.requirements.will.then.apply.to.all.commodities.
shipped.to.all.locations.except.for.bulk.commodities.and.explosives..Bulk.commodities.are.defined.
as.those.that.are.shipped.in.rail.tank.cars,.tanker.trucks,.trailers,.other.bulk.wheeled.conveyances.or.
pipelines..These.products.include.sand,.gravel,.bulk.liquids.(water,.chemicals,.or.petroleum.products),.
ready-mix.concrete.or.similar.construction.materials,.coal.or.combustibles.such.as.firewood,.and.
agricultural.products.such.as.seeds,.grains,.and.animal.feeds.
The.two.major.requirements.for.suppliers.are.(1).passive.tagging.at.the.case,.pallet,.and.case.
within.pallet.load;.and.(2).ASN..The.RFID.electronic.data.requirements.are.for.a.standard.Ship.
Notice/Manifest.EDI.Transaction.Set.856..This.will.enable.the.sender.to.describe.the.contents.and.
configuration.of.a.shipment.in.a.format.that.can.be.recognized.at.the.receiving.end.or.by.other.inter- ested.parties.with.appropriate.access.to.the.data..Three.sets.of.information.are.included:.contract.
FIGURE 10.2 UID.labeling.diagram.
information,.product.description,.and.RFID.tag.data..The.contract.information.includes.the.contract.
number,.shipment.number,.prime.contractor,.and.shipment.date..The.product.description.includes.
contract. line. item. number,. NSN,. item.description,. and.quantity.. The.RFID. tag.data. include. the.
RFID.tag.number,.line.item.number,.and.quantity.
MIL-STD-129P,.Change.Notice.4,.page.70,.paragraph.4.9.4—Electronic.data.interchange.(EDI).
transactions.are.used.to.link.the.passive.RFID.tag.to.the.content.level.detail.information.associated.
with.each.of.the.container.types..Consignors.are.required.to.transmit.these.EDI.transactions.to.con- signees.in.advance.of.the.shipment.(DCMAC-JP.RFID.DOD.UIDTask8).
Contractors.must.submit.the.ASN.via.the.WAWF.program..Most.of.the.data.required.by.an.ASN.
are.already.being.submitted.to.the.DOD.via.WAWF..Contractors.must.be.registered.in.the.central.
contractor.registry.(CCR).to.become.registered.to.use.WAWF.
Once.the.contractor.enters.and.submits.the.RFID.tag.data.into.WAWF,.they.will.be.transmitted.
to.the.receiving.depot’s.database,.awaiting.arrival.of.the.shipment..When.the.shipment.arrives.and.
the.RFID.tags.are.read,.the.shipment.will.automatically.be.updated.as.received.by.the.depot.
RFID.antennas.are.mounted.on.either.side.of.the.truck.dock.area.
As.shipping.containers.or.pallet.loads.of.boxes.are.moved.past.the.antennas.via.forklift,.RFID.
tags.are.automatically.scanned.and.RFID.tag.data.are.submitted.to.the.depot’s.computer.system.
The.DOD.has.also.determined.a.nesting.scheme.to.use.the.capabilities.of.the.currently.used.
active.RFID.tags.with.the.mandated.passive.tags.as.described.in.Figure.10.3.
The.grey.rectangular.box.depicts.a.“freight.container”.that.will.be.identified.with.an.active.RFID.
tag..The.freight.container.could.be.a.sea.van.or.other.enclosed.intermodal.container.or.a.463L.pallet..
The.pallet.loads.that.are.consolidated.into.the.freight.container.will.have.passive.RFID.tags.that.
will.link.to.content.information.for.the.containers.that.make.up.the.pallet.load.
Figure.10.4.shows.the.various.stages.of.the.transportation.process,.and.the.RFID.interface.they.
will.use.as.part.of.the.nested.design..Manufacturers.and.suppliers.use.passive.RFID,.which.then.go.
to.distribution.centers.and.depots.where.shipments.are.organized.and.grouped.with.active.RFID,.
which.is.used.at.both.the.port.of.entry.(POE).and.port.of.departure.(POD)..These.shipments.are.
FIGURE 10.3 Nested.design.of.RFID.prototype.implementations.
UID and RFID Standards for Military 129
received.at.the.theater.or.depot,.and.then.broken.down.to.the.point.where.the.passive.RFID.tech- nologies.are.again.in.use.(DCMAC-JP.RFID.DOD.UIDTask8).
At.the.manufacturer/supplier.locations.and.the.depots,.the.item.can.be.tracked.to.the.shipping.
container.level.and.pallet.level.using.passive.RFID..Active.RFID.is.applied.on.large.shipping.con- tainers.to.track.the.consolidated.shipments.during.overseas.transit..Passive.RFID.at.the.delivery.
point/customer.location.tracks.the.item.from.the.individual.container.level.to.its.destination.
10.4.1 ImpLementAtIon stRAtegIes
Various. strategies. may. be.employed. to. meet.the.DOD.RFID.requirements..Each.supplier’s. best.
course.of.action.will.depend.upon.the.amount.of.business.with.DOD.or.other.customers.requiring.
RFID..Suppliers.will.have.a.variety.of.options.when.they.are.looking.for.ways.that.they.can.meet.
the.DOD.RFID.requirements..Suppliers.may.use.third-party.logistics.(3PL).provider,.purchase.pro- grammed.tags.and.apply.to.cases/pallets,.purchase.equipment.(i.e.,.printer.or.reader).to.program.
tags,.or.incorporate.a.full.RFID.infrastructure.throughout.their.business.process.
Third-party.logistics.vendors.are.responsible.for.applying.RFID-enabled.tags,.submitting.ASN.
via.WAWF,.and.maintaining.uniqueness.of.the.RFID.number..3PL.vendors.may.also.provide.addi- tional.services.such.as.packaging.of.material.to.meet.contract.requirements,.transportation.manage- ment,.finished.goods.storage,.and.order.fulfillment..Advantages.of.using.3PL.vendors.is.that.they.
should. have. the. expertise. to.meet.the. contractual. requirements,. obtain. quotes,. and. add. costs. to.
your.unit.price.to.the.DOD..However,.this.may.end.up.costing.more.than.an.internal.capability.in.
the.long.run..Companies.also.do.not.benefit.from.the.RFID.technology.within.company.processes.
(DCMAC-JP.RFID.DOD.UIDTask8).
Purchasing.programmed.tags.and.applying.to.cases/pallets.is.also.called.“Slap.and.ship.”.Vendors.
of.these.tags.must.certify.tag.data,.uniqueness,.and.readability..Labels.may.contain.the.MIL-STD-129.
markings.(MSL).or.they.may.be.blank..This.is.recommended.for.businesses.that.are.not.shipping.a.
significant.number.of.cases.to.the.DOD.per.year.and.do.not.intend.to.utilize.RFID.technology.in- house..The.advantage.is.a.minimal.cost.to.meet.the.mandate..All.that.is.required.of.the.supplier.is.
to.attach.labels.and.provide.a.corresponding.ASN..Costs.are.low.at.approximately.$80–$5.per.pre- programmed.tag,.and.sources.appear.to.be.readily.available.by.doing.an.Internet.search.using.“DOD.
RFID.”.Tags.verified.as.readable.at.the.time.of.purchase.may.be.used.at.a.later.date.for.shipments,.
and.RFID.tags.may.be.purchased.for.several.contracts.as.the.RFID.serial.number.is.not.contract.spe- cific..However,.suppliers.do.not.have.their.own.quality.check.if.the.tags.being.applied.are.readable.
as.the.DFARS.Clause.mandates..WAWF.data.entry.can.also.be.time.consuming.for.multiple.tags..
Some.tag.suppliers.add.linear.bar.codes.to.the.tags,.so.that.the.contractor.can.scan.the.label.with.a.
wedge.reader.and.input.the.hexadecimal.tag.serial.number.automatically,.rather.than.keying.in.each.
number;.although.this.will.cost.more,.it.is.more.accurate.(DCMAC-JP.RFID.DOD.UIDTask8).
For.the.case.of.purchasing.equipment.to.program.tags,.RFID.interrogators.have.an.approximate.
minimum.cost.of.$2500..Part.of.this.price.is.that.each.interrogator.is.a.small.radio.transmitter,.
Manufacturers/Suppliers
Passive Active Passive
Distribution centers/Depots POEs/PODs
Transportation/Supply/
Theater depots/TDCs Customers
FIGURE 10.4 Diagram.of.active/passive.utilization.
which.must.be.licensed.by.the.Federal.Communications.Commission..Vendors.often.offer.bundled.
packages.(software.and.hardware).to.meet.the.DOD.requirements..Suppliers.may.be.able.to.upgrade.
existing.hardware.(label.printers).to.program.RFID.tags..By.printing.their.own.labels,.they.may.be.
able.to.obtain.discounts.on.tags,.control.their.own.production,.and.may.be.able.to.flow.the.RFID.
tag.numbers.directly.to.the.ASN.information.without.manually.inputting.the.data..However,.suppli- ers.do.not.gain.full.benefits.of.the.RFID.technology.if.they.are.simply.meeting.customer.require- ments..Minimal.cost.for.an.RFID-enabled.printer.appears.to.be.at.least.$5000;.non-programmed.
tags.can.be.obtained.for.30–50.cents.per.tag,.and.software.for.data.exchange.to.supplier’s.computer.
system—$300–$1000,.depending.on.the.system..Using.their.own.equipment.also.requires.trained.
personnel,.and.requires.that.the.supplier.maintain.uniqueness.of.tag.data.
The.remaining.option.is.to.incorporate.a.full.RFID.infrastructure.throughout.business.process..
This.could.include.implementing.a.new.full.RFID.from.inbound.receiving.to.outbound.shipment.
or.obtaining. or. modifying.existing.software.and.hardware.to.apply.RFID.technology..Suppliers.
that.take.this.option.are.in.a.position.to.receive.all.the.benefits.of.the.RFID.technology;.increased.
production.visibility,.control,.and.accuracy..Automated.build.of.shipment.information.and.genera- tion.of.ASN.will.also.decrease.the.inefficiencies.seen.in.the.other.options..However,.this.option.is.a.
significant.investment.in.hardware.and.software.(DCMAC-JP.RFID.DOD.UIDTask8).
10.4.2 RepLAcementfoR BAR codes
Traditional.bar.codes.(Linear.UPC).will.remain.the.dominant.auto-ID.technology.in.most.main- stream.applications.for.the.foreseeable.future.as.it.has.the.lowest.cost,.broadest.applicability,.and.
a.huge.infrastructure. investment..2D.bar.codes.(PDF.417).have.been.adopted.for.value-added.
applications,.portable.data.files,.supplementary.retail.coding,.etc.
RFID.active,.passive,.and.semi-passive.systems.will.be.increasingly.adopted.where.non-line.of.
sight,.read/write,.and.multiple.detection.requirements.are.needed..Will.bar.codes.still.be.required.
on.cases/cartons?.Yes..The.requirements.of.human-readable,.linear.bar.codes,.and.2D.military.ship- ping.labels.have.not.been.altered.by.the.RFID.initiative..These.methods.of.marking.must.remain.as.
a.backup.when.the.RFID.can’t.be.read.(DCMAC-JP.RFID.DOD.UIDTask8).