Air Force Materiel Command

War-Winning Capabilities On Time, On Cost

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) in Air Force

Mark Reboulet AFMC LSO/LOA Mark.reboulet@wpafb.af.mil (937) 257-7181 Integrity - Service - Excellence

Overview
RFID Defined Marketing vs Engineers Transaction of record vs monitoring Why RFID? AF RFID initiatives Future opportunities Way ahead

Defining RFID
New technology is defined by what we understand New technology over time evolves

Horseless carriage --- automobile --- car --- SUV --- hybrid ---?
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Marketing vs Engineers

Technology

God
Marketing

Physics
Engineers

Time
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Transaction of Record vs Monitoring

Goal: 100% read rate Reality: Something less than 100% read rate Process monitoring (50%-70% read rate)
A.B.C.D.E.F (Fill in the blanks)

Transaction of Record (100% read rate)

A.B.C.D.E.F (Process must maintain 100%)

Know what you are trying to accomplish before you start

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Why RFID? Bar Codes not going away !  Improve data accuracy  Performs in rugged, harsh environments  Facilitate source data collection where data is available  Limited or no human intervention  Eliminates human error

AF Specific RFID initiatives

AF RFID Utilization
 Afloat Pre-positioned Fleet (APF)  Tagged (Active) all containers last three years at
Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point (MOTSU)

 Passive RFID Military Shipping Label  Track boxes from base through consolidation

process at Arial Port and Army Theater Distribution Center with final delivery to destination base

 AMTS (Proposed RFID integration)  Tracks assets from DLA to Depot operations and
back

 WR-ALC Gyro RTLS  Tracks repair assets through the overhaul process

USAF Afloat Pre-Positioned Fleet

STEP 1: Label the assets with bar codes

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USAF Afloat Pre-Positioned Fleet

STEP 2: STUFF AND PROCESS THE CONTAINER

Scan 2D labels and load all pallets into ISO. Scan Tag ID barcode & write ISO manifest to Tag using the Reader Pod

RF TAG

Print build sheets and manifest labels, update ITV Server

AFSILC Mobile & Pod

12 2D Pallet Barcode Label

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USAF Afloat Pre-Positioned Fleet

STEP 3: Update the World Wide Port System and lift to vessel

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AF Passive RFMSL Overview

demonstrate the ability of a prototype EPC (Electronic Product Code) Class 0 passive RFID Military Shipping Label (MSL) to automatically record transportation event transactions and associate them to content level detail in Department of Defense (DOD) In-transit visibility system with minimal human intervention. (CONUS) AF and Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) sites for tag creation, Dover-Ramstein consolidation/airlift, multiple Outside Continental United States (OCONUS) destinations
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 Short Summary: The initial implementation will

 Location's): Multiple Continental United States

RFMSL Architecture
Aerial Port Small Package
(Printer Intercept)

Source Base/DLA
(Printer Intercept) Tag ID - TCN mapping Data Warehouse
TCN Content Data mapping

ITV Server

Aerial Port CAP Station

(Printer Intercept)

Aerial Port (APOE)

(Stand-alone PC)

Cargo Flow Information Flow

Loc - Locate TCN Transportation Control Number

Aerial Port (APOD)

(Stand-alone PC)

Pallet ID lead TCN Loc Update

Dest Base (Stand-alone PC)

Theater Dist Ctr (TDC) (Stand-alone PC) 19

Dover AFB

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Dover AFB

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Dover AFB

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Dover AFB Small Package Line

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Dover AFB Active to Passive Transfer

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Ramstein AB

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Theater Distribution Center GE

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Theater Distribution Center GE

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Ramstein AB

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Spangdahlem AB

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RFID Enable AMTS

Automated Material Tracking System (AMTS) began as a means to increase supply warehousing efficiency and reduce overall parts supply costs
Technology bridge between existing AF legacy systems and DLA Web-based solution created for real-time tracking of more than 1 million materiel pieces transferred between AFMC divisions and the DLA Agencies at OC-ALC, OO-ALC, and WR-ALC Can use multiple database formats
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AMTSThe Issue Process

Customer Inputs Material Request G402-EPS MID-TIER

DSS Information
Receive Requisition Warehouse Release Warehouse Pick Manifest Time Placed on Truck

Manifest

DSS MAINFRAME DROP OFF POINT

Manifest

SCS MAINFRAME Driver Scans Manifest Real Time Interface AMTS SERVER
DD Form1348 IR/RD

D035K Information
Issue information Denials Reversals Customer Inchecks Property and Scans Individual Documents

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AMTSTurn-in Process
Customer Inputs Material Turn In G402-EPS MID-TIER

DLA WAREHOUSE
Receives Turn In Process Receipt

DSS MAINFRAME

PPMR Data to: Receipt Data From: DSS SCS MAINFRAME

AMTS SERVER

Priority data Receipt data

Manifest

New functionality Is this receipt a MICAP? Items Scanned Into AMTS Manifest Built/Printed

Driver Scans Manifest CUSTOMER PICK UP AREA

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Gyro Shop RTLS

Real-time tracking of critical gyro assets through repair shop

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Gyro Shop RTLS

Benefits: improved scheduling process reduced time in the maintenance process elimination of asset loss; expediting of priority maintenance full asset visibility at all management levels

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Future Opportunities
Medical Mail order drug validation Base supply RFID DD form 1348-1A Automated Cross Dock Hazmat Pharmacy Track usage/exposure Shop/manufacturing floor tracking RTLS

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Way Ahead
AF is stepping out with active and passive RFID Initial implementation demonstrated passive RFID has a play in TAV Continue to participate with industry Know where you want to go or any path will take you there!

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Questions

For more information:

http://www.dodait.com http://www.dodrfid.org http://www.acq.osd.mil/dpap/UID/

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Back-up Slides

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RFID Standards
Many to choose from!

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RFID Standards
ISO 10374.2, Freight containers RF automatic identification ISO 17363 - Supply chain applications of RFID Freight containers ISO 17364 - Supply chain applications of RFID - Returnable transport items ISO 17365 - Supply chain applications of RFID Transport units ISO 17366 - Supply chain applications of RFID Product packaging ISO 17367 - Supply chain applications of RFID Product tagging

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Standards
RFID for Item Management Air Interface (ISO 18000)  ISO/IEC 18000-1 - Generic parameters - Air interface  ISO/IEC 18000-2 - Parameters for air interface below 135 kHz  ISO/IEC 18000-3 - Parameters for air interface at 13.56 MHz  ISO/IEC 18000-4 - Parameters for air interface at 2.45 GHz  ISO/IEC 18000-6 - Parameters for air interface at 860-960 MHz  ISO/IEC 18000-7 - Parameters for active air interface at 433.92 MHz

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RFID Experts Group

Formed in February 2004 to assist DoD with RFID implementation Under the AIM Global umbrella in July 2004 Reaching out for international cooperation
Europe Japan Korea China

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REG Terms of Reference (ToRs)

ToR: Reader System Implementation & Operations ToR: Enabled Labels & Packaging ToR: Recyclability ToR: Tag Quality ToR: Education & Certification ToR: Global Operation ToR: Privacy ToR: Safety ToR: Security ToR: Sensors and Transducers ToR: Technology Selection
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ISO/IEC Implementation ToRs

ISO/IEC 24729-1, Information technology Radio frequency identification for item management Implementation guidelines Part 1: RFID-enabled labels ISO/IEC 24729-2, Information technology Radio frequency identification for item management Implementation guidelines Part 2: Recyclability of RF tags ISO/IEC 24729-3, Information technology Radio frequency identification for item management Implementation guidelines Part 3: RFID interrogator/antenna installation
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Defense Logistics is Big Business

SKU/NSN - 5.2M Orders - 26M annually One day of pipeline = $79.2M Contracts 8200 / day
Annual value pipeline =$28.9B
Open Storage Covered Storage 20.5 M Sq Ft 52.2 M Sq Ft

1.75M air shipments 208K S/T air cargo

5.1million M/T sealift 100,000+ containers annually 45

RFID Policy Scope

Active RFID freight containers, air pallets

SAVI 433 Mhz readers SAVI 410 tags DoD tag data formats
Passive RFID case, pallet, UID item packaging

EPC std UHF readers EPC Class 0 & 1 std tags Migration to EPC UHF Generation 2 std EPC and DoD tag data formats
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Facing new challenges

Rapidly moving force on a
Improve business processes now Influence the direction and cost of technology development dynamic battlefield Demand for better information on assets Need for more effective management of inventory

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The RFID Supply Chain Vision

Implement knowledge-enabled logistics through fully automated visibility and management of assets in support of the warfighter
Manufacturers/ Suppliers Distribution Centers/Depots POEs/PODs Transportation/ Supply/ Theater Depots/TDCs Customers

PASSIVE

ACTIVE

PASSIVE

Using good information to reduce bad inventory.

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Active RFID Mandates

 Freight containers, consolidated air pallets, large engine containers shipped to overseas DOD receiving points

 Tags are unique to the DOD and will rarely be a contractual obligation on suppliers
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Passive RFID Mandates

 Cases & pallets shipped to key DOD receiving points beginning Jan 2005 in accordance with supplier implementation plan
 Tags will be EPC-compliant and will be a contractual obligation on suppliers
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Passive RFID Implementation For DOD Suppliers

January 1, 2005
Classes of Supply:  II, VI, IX, I (PORs/MREs) Level of Tagging:  Shipping Containers, Palletized Unit Loads, Exterior Containers Ship to locations:  San Joaquin, Susquehanna Level of Tagging Ship to Locations Classes of Supply 43,000 DoD Manufacturers/Suppliers New contracts and revisions

January 1, 2006
Classes of Supply:  Begin All Classes Level of Tagging:  Shipping Containers, Palletized Unit Loads, Exterior Containers Ship to locations:  Strategic CONUS DLA Depots, TRANSCOM Facilities & Service Maintenance Facilities

January 1, 2007
Classes of Supply:  All Classes Level of Tagging:

 Shipping Containers, Palletized Unit Loads, Exterior Containers, UID Item Unit Pack Ship to locations: All Locations 51

Complimentary Active and Passive RFID

Active Container Tag associated to a

Passive Pallet Tag associated to a

Passive Carton Tag associated to

8 UID Packaging Tags each with 1 associated

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UID item