The Compliance of DoD UID Labels According to the MIL-STD-130 N Requirements

The DoD UID labels are required to be according toeither same or different that that of the material of the
the standards of MIL-STD-130 N. The mentioneditem. It is essential that the material of the labels
criteria must be followed by the contractors to avoidshouldn’t cause any damage to the items and
rejection.should get affixed to the material of the items or parts.
The DoD UID labels are one of the ways of markingThe standard has limited the number of characters of
the DoD items with unique identification so as tothe UID marking of the labels to 50.
enhance their traceability. The Department of DefenseThe criteria for machine-readable and human readable
has mandated that the labels should be MIL-STD-130 Ninformation of the UID data on the DoD UID label are
compliant so that all markings of the items shoulddeclared by the MIL-STD-130 N.
maintain a standard. As the marking and serializationThe validation and verification of data are mandatory
process of the items are the essential aspect of itemfor each submitted data.
management and tracking, the UID marking thatThe warranty of contract between the government
doesn’t comply with the standards are rejected byand the contractors states about the nature, utility and
the department. The DoD UID labels are marked withcondition of the objects.
2D Data matrix codes that are machine readableThe drawbacks of the MIL-STD-130 have been
either by direct part marking or by applying permanentrectifying for the convenience of the contractors and
UID labels.better management of the UID items. The latest
Apart from the feature that the unit acquisition cost ofversion of the MIL-STD-130 N, which was released on
the items should be more than $5000, the other criteriaDecember 17 2007, has mentioned the criteria for DoD
that enables the items to have unique identification areUID labels, validation and verification. According to the
• The items are controlled inventorystandard, different lighting methods should be used for
• Serially managedthe different part marking. The contractors are
• Mission essentialrequired to follow the instructions provided for marking
• The item is customable where permanentof UID and manufacturing UID labels.
identification is necessary.The DoD UID labels are verified according to the cell
As the basic identification marking standard of themodulation, cell size, cell contrast, print growth,
DoD UID labels are regulated by the MIL-STD-130 N, itreference decode, fixed pattern damage, unused error
is mandatory for the contractors to obey thecorrection, axial non-uniformity, minimum reflectance,
instructions provided in the standard. The standard hasand grid non-uniformity. When the outsourcing of UID is
issued some specifications for the markingconsidered, the DoD should ensure that the service
requirements and the marking methods of the UID.should follow all the steps mandated by the standard.
Depending on the requirement of the UID marking ofEven, the DoD UID label generating software must
the item, the labels (nameplates, ID plates or Datacomply with the standards of MIL-STD-130 N.
plates) can be constructed with either metallic orprovides complete solutions for UID and DoD UID
non-metallic materials.Labels related needs. also provides complete solutions
The DoD UID labels of the items are made of materialto meet new DoD direct part marking requirements.