Item Unique Identification

Overview

Item Unique Identification (IUID) is a systematic process to globally and unambiguously distinguish one item from all the other items that DoD buys or owns. IUID-enabled Serialized Item Management (SIM) provides a capability that allows DoD to locate, control, value and manage its assets throughout the life cycle. A robust SIM program provides tools and processes to assist informed decision making to achieve both better weapon system reliability and readiness at reduced total ownership cost. IUID-enabled SIM provides DoD with a standard methodology to:

Consistently capture the value of all individual items it buys/owns.
Trace these items during their use.
Combat counterfeiting of parts.
Associate valuable business intelligence to an item throughout its life cycle via automatic identification technology and connections to automated information systems.

Role of the PM and SE

Program Managers (PMs) and Product Support Managers should budget, plan for and implement IUID-enabled SIM as an integral activity within MIL-STD-130 (Identification Marking of U.S. Military Property) requisite item identification processes to identify and track applicable major end items and configuration-controlled items. IUID implemented in accordance with DoDI 8320.04 and IUID Implementation Plans are required for all milestone decisions as directed by Adaptive Acquisition Framework Document Identification (AAFDID) tool. IUID-specific design considerations are required in the Systems Engineering Plan (SEP) and SIM planning and implementation required by DoDI 4151.19 are addressed in the Life-Cycle Sustainment Plan (LCSP).

The Systems Engineer considers what to mark and how to incorporate the IUID mark within MIL-STD-130 item-marking requirements when formulating design decisions. In addition, the Systems Engineer considers where product and maintenance information reside and how the life-cycle data are used within the configuration management and product support systems -- including new and legacy information systems.

The DoD Guide to Uniquely Identifying Items provides guidance on implementing IUID intended for use by Department of Defense (DoD) contractors and their suppliers, who put unique item identifier (UII) marks on new items during production, as directed in the contract.

Products and Tasks

Product	Tasks
10-14-1: Develop program IUID requirements for evaluation of contract offerors’ and source selection Note 1: IUID is initially implemented by the system contractor, who must develop the original data base elements required for life cycle support	Identify program requirements for item unique identification (IUID)-enabled serialized item management (SIM) in the capability development document (CDD) and capability production document (CPD). Develop IUID-enabled SIM information for inclusion in the request for proposal (RFP). Evaluate offerors’ IUID-enabled SIM proposals as part of the source selection process.
10-14-2: Develop IUID system	Analyze the program’s system maintenance philosophy and results of the level of repair analysis (LORA), documented in the life cycle sustainment plan, and each potential property item from the product baseline to determine item unique identification (IUID) applicability. Analyze the operational environment of the property items. Analyze the composition of the property items. Analyze the placement and structure of the property items on the system’s end and enabling products. Develop a durable marking method for each property item based on IUID analyses. Document IUID application items and marking methods and incorporate into system documentation.
10-14-3: Analyze and determine adequacy of IUID surveillance program requirements	Obtain contractor’s IUID system documentation. Verify and validate that IUID marking methods for each property item type are in accordance with the requirements of MIL-STD-130N. Verify suppliers have implemented a system that properly updates the DoD IUID registry. Verify the IUID data collection system employed by the system developer addresses engineering changes. Verify the system developer’s statistical process control system addresses IUID requirements. Verify the prime system developer’s quality assurance plan properly addresses IUID requirements. Document verification of system developer surveillance program that monitors the developer’s efforts to meet system life cycle IUID requirements.

Source: AWQI eWorkbook

Resources

Key Terms

Item Unique Identification (IUID )
Item Unique Identification Implementation Plan
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)
Serialized Item Management (SIM)

Policy and Guidance

DoDI 4151.19, Serialized Item Management (SIM) for Life-Cycle Management of Materiel
DoDI 5000.88, Engineering of Defense Systems, Section 3.7.d. Item Unique Identification
DoDI 8320.04, Item Unique Identification (IUID) Standards for Tangible Personal Property
MIL-STD-130, Identification Marking of U.S. Military Property
Adaptive Acquisition Framework Document Identification (AAFDID) Tool, Item Unique Identification Plan information requirement
Systems Engineering (SE) Guidebook, Section 5.13 Item Unique Identification
DoD Guide to Uniquely Identifying Items
IUID Implementation Planning Guide
Systems Engineering Plan Outline, Appendix B Item Unique Identification Implementation Plan

DAU Training Courses

ETM 1050 Design Considerations Fundamentals, Lesson 14 Item Unique Identification
CLE 040: IUID Marking
ACQ 0200: Item Unique Identification (IUID)