Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Within the Department of Defense (DoD)
What is RFID?
RFID technology is a means of identifying a unique object or a person using a radio frequency transmission in either a passive or active format. RFID tags can be programmed to receive, store and transmit information such as serial numbers, place of assembly or personal information such as healthcare records. RFID systems carry data in suitable transponders, generally know as tags, and retrieve data, by machine-readable means, at a suitable time and place to satisfy particular application needs. Data within a tag may provide any level of identification for an item during manufacture, in-transit, in-storage, or in-use. In addition to tags, an RFID system requires a means for reading or "interrogating" the tags to obtain the stored data and then some means of communicating this tag data to a DoD logistics information system.
Why implement RFID within DoD?
The use of RFID in the DoD supply chain has the potential to provide real benefits in inventory management, asset visibility, and interoperability in an end-to-end integrated environment. RFID is required by DoD to:
Provide near-real time in-transit visibility for all classes of supplies and material
Provide "in the box" content level detail for all classes of supplies and material
Provide quality, non-intrusive identification and data collection that enables enhanced inventory management
Provide enhanced item level visibility
For Information on the DoD RFID policy, requirements, and a Supplier Guide and Implementation Plan:
GCAP is funded in part by a grant from the Defense Logistics Agency, the Oregon Economic and Community Development Department and by contract with the Oregon Department of Transportation. GCAP is administered by the Organization for Economic Initiatives, Inc. (OEI), a private non-profit corporation.
PTAP Services
