Regional hazardous inventory control system … the navy's newest hazadous material management system - RHICS - HM

Navy Supply Corps Newsletter, March-April, 2003 by Doug Ballou

RHICS is a state-of-the-art, web-enabled application designed to provide inventory management and limited environmental reporting. It is designed to be multifaceted and handle numerous inventory scenarios.

RHICS currently interfaces with the Material Financial Control System (MFCS) for the handling of Navy Working Capital Fund (NWCF) inventory. It also interfaces with DAAS for the capture of fleet requisitions as well as the submission of shore requirements via DAAS and the sending of return status.

RHICS allows for the use of station owned inventory that is then paid for by MIPRs [Military Interdepartmental Purchase Requests] from the various supported customers.

It also provides online ordering capability directly from the customer to the IN Center as well as total asset visibility of all inventory held in RHICS wherever it may be, from Japan to the Mediterranean. All this in a single database accessed over the web. Software updates are just a log in away.

The functionality of this system is divided into three areas within the application--a customer focus from the main web page, Regional functionality, and Hazardous Minimum Center (HAZMINCEN) functionality. RHICS provides the day-to-day operators the ability to submit a System Change Request (SCR) and/or ProgramTrouble Report (PTR) through the application. The SCR form was designed for the submission of application enhancements while the PTR form is designed to report program problems.

The customer, ship or shore station, from the RHICS home page can request material from their supporting HAZMIN Center over the web. When ordering, they will see a material list that is based on there Authorized Use List (AUL) for ordering. Material would then be issued to the customer based on free issue first and then cost material. They also have the ability to check for assets at other HAZMIN Centers. These functions are performed completely over the web with no additional software needed by the user except a browser, a user id, and a password.

The system is level 1 Web Enabled Navy (WEN), 508, fire wall compliant and is currently operating in production with full Defense Information Technology Security Certification and Accreditation Process (DITSCAP) accreditation as well as being Navy/ Marine Corps Intranet certified.

In June 2001, Rota, Sigonella, and Naples were converted from the DOS HICS program and brought into RHICS beta production. The application provided these sites with the ability to manage their hazardous materials inventory over the web from a central server as well as providing them the ability to view all hazardous material globally through the asset visibility menu option in RHICS. These three sites provided invaluable feedback on the functionality of the application that enabled the NAVICP development team to enhance the system prior to full production.

In October 2001, the RHICS production site was established in the Defense Enterprise Computing Center (DECC) Detachment Norfolk. Rota, Sigonella, and Naples were moved from the beta production server to the DECC servers. Additionally, Northwest Region (multiple sites) and Souda Bay, Crete, were converted from DOS HICS to RHICS.

In November 2001, the RHICS Help Desk was established at Hazardous Minimization Project Office (HMPO-East) providing 24 by 6 coverage. Contact telephone numbers are DSN 646-2551/2552 or 866-792-3373 and commercial 757-443-2551/2552.

Since November, RHICS has expanded to include sites in Keflavik, Iceland; Yokosuka, Iwakuni, and Atsugi, Japan; Norfolk, Va.; Point Loma, Calif.; Mayport and Jacksonville, Fla.; and LaMaddalena, Italy. We have also set up a single operation in conjunction with the Defense Logistics Agency on the island of

Okinawa, Japan, using RHICS and sung all services on the island (Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marines).

Bringing a site into RHICS production entails conversion of DOS HICS data (if available) or Hazardous Substance Management System (HSMS) (if available). The installation of the Java Runtime Environment (JRE), Version 1.3.1_02, copying three printer files and two security files on the site's personal computers. The site is also required to ensure that fire wall port 443 is open. The Help Desk is available to work with the sites' Information Technology (IT) Departments to facilitate connecting to the RHICS Production Site. A test area is also available for a site to view and/or evaluate the application for suitability. For access to the test area contact the Help Desk.

HAZMINCEN Functionality

* Asset Visibility

* HAZMIN Profile

* User Accounts/Privileges/ Passwords

* Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) Monthly Report

* Inventory Update

* Stock Check

* Issue Materials

* Container Return

* Requisition Materials

* Receive Materials

* Various Reports

* Ability to process Requisitions passed from Regional level.

* Processing of status back to the requisitioner.

* Handling of Reuse, BP28, DMI, Contractor Owned and A-Condition materials.

* Creates a DD 1348-1A shipping document.

Regional Functionality