MIL-STD-130 Spec for UID Marking of the Item

The MIL-STD-130 spec has stated certain criteria for UID marking of the items. The unique identification marking for the items is a procedure of Department of Defense to simplify the item tracking process. According to the MIL-STD-130 spec the qualifying items for having unique identification include items with acquisition cost over $5000, mission essential, controlled inventory or serially managed items, and component of delivered items. DoD requires that the items must be permanently marked with 2D data matrix barcode. The data elements of the unique identification are item number, part number, serial number, CAGE code, etc. As the UII of the items are crucial for the item tracking process, the DoD requires that the marking should b permanent for the functional life time of the item.

There are certain aspects of UID marking that are essential to follow to get UID compliance of the marking.
Durable Material for the UID Label-
Basically, UID labels are preferred when the environment of the item or part is not suitable for direct part marking. In such case, durability of the labels or nameplates comes under the quality checking of the item UID. Hence, it is required that the contractors must choose the right material for the manufacture of the labels. MIL-STD-130 spec requires that the material of the labels shouldn't cause any harm to the material or functionality of the item. Also it is required that the material of the labels must able to resist adverse conditions such as water, excess temperature, chemical processing, sunlight and other elements. Of course, choosing the right material for the nameplates or labels and the proper marking technique make all difference to the performance of the item. In case of the Direct Part Marking, the marking techniques of the part and item should be chosen carefully to give a permanent marking solution for the item.

UID Compliance of the Data-
The MIL-STD-130 spec has provided clear instructions for the data elements that must for the UID construction. The data elements are entered in the 2D data matrix code and are decoded with the help of a barcode scanner or reader. The data elements are item number, part number, manufacturer's code, serial number, CAGE code, construct type, etc. The marking procedure of the data must provide permanent marking solution for the item. The marking should comply with the UID standard of MIL-STD-130 spec otherwise the software of the barcode scanner will not be able to identify the codes. Accuracy of the data is another element that proves it to be UID Compliant.

UID Data Verification-
The UID data of all the items should be submitted to UID Registry for their approval. UID Registry is the store house of UID data of the items and accepts or rejects the documents submitted by the contractors by verifying the accuracy and UID compliance. Hence, before submitting the data, the suppliers must confirm that the construction and marking of the UID data are according to the MIL-STD-130 spec.

The MIL-STD-130 spec mentions the criteria of UID marking and hence, it should be followed by the suppliers while marking the items to make them comply with the UID standard.