DDCN working to improve tracking of Navy material - Defense Distribution Center

Navy Supply Corps Newsletter, May-June, 2003

DEFENSE DISTRIBUTION CENTER/ DDCN. Accurate tracking of parts and material from the moment it enters the supply chain to the end of its life cycle is an important goal of the Defense Distribution Center (DDC). For Navy customers, a huge step forward has been taken at Defense Distribution Depot Cherry Point, N.C. (DDCN).

Serial Number Tracking (SNT) is being realized through advances in information technology and the World Wide Web. Recently, the Naval Supply Systems Command and DDC teamed up to bring this process to DDCN. With help from Naval Inventory Control Points (NAVICP) onsite representative, Paul Ottey, DDCN's Deputy Kevin Taylor, NAVSUP's project manager LCDR Matt Mullins, SC, USN, and NAVICP's Wayne Hoover, the program is making dramatic improvements in quick and accurate material tracking.

SNT was initiated in November 1998 in response to the Aviation Maintenance Supply Readiness review to reduce costs and increase reliability of aviation depot level repairables. SNT is defined as a closed-loop process, cradle-to-grave tracking of maintenance critical, serialized components, providing asset and material status.

Automatic Identification Technology (AIT) is making SNT work through the use of Contact Memory Buttons (CMB). The buttons are attached to inventory items and stores data about the item, including information about the manufacturer and the item's repair history. This capability is especially useful where access to a central database is not readily available.

Under the guidance of NAVSUP and NAVICP, DDCN made provisions and developed a procedure for the Navy to affix CMBs to hundreds of critical H-53 helicopter components. Taking only weeks to complete, the combined DDC-Navy effort was extraordinarily successful, and completed well under budget. Already lessons learned and procedures established at DDCN will pay dividends when other materials and parts are tagged at other distribution centers.

Naval Air Systems Command is engaged in a five-year contact memory button installation plan for each of its different aircraft. Eventually, more than 1.25 million aviation depot level repairables will be equipped with contact memory buttons. Naval Aviation Depot Cherry Point is the major overhaul site for the H53 aircraft. They will be a benefactor of work done at DDCN and will work with CMBs in the future.