While IUID is used to uniquely and unambiguously identify individual tangible items for serialized tracking, active and passive RFID is used to track and locate packages, pallets, and shipping containers holding those tangible items for supply, maintenance, warehousing, and logistics purposes. IUID and RFID must be integrated to accelerate AMCs Industrial Base Modernization Program, and to provide the Army with a single view of its enterprise assets, or their value for increased asset management, logistics control, and speed-to-value in business process decisioning will be greatly diminished.

At AMC, IUID and RFID are integrated using a Service Oriented Architecture (SOA is a computer systems architectural style for creating and using business processes packaged as services). SOA facilitates device data capture, aggregation, transfer, and transmission of relevant information across an enterprise service bus to operational databases and data warehouses. Using SOA, the AMC enterprise service bus can provide key information for business services like shop floor IT, reporting services, registry,and other hub services within the Department of the Army.

This is a big undertaking, but the benefits of integrating IUID with RFID far outweigh the costs and resources of implementing them separately. Not only are the total costs involved anticipated to be significantly reduced, but AMC also plans to achieve improved efficiency, productivity, and production capabilities vital to its Industrial Base Modernization Program - while the US Army will have a more synchronous view of its enterprise for greater command and control.

First article in a UID Journal Exclusive Series.