Military RFID Applications

Currently, the military distribution system has over 3 million active RFID tags in circulation. In Afghanistan, Iraq, Kuwait and Pakistan, there are over 3,100 tag-reader devices. The Navy, Air Force and Marines have invested in passive RFID technology with promising results.

The Navy: RFID readers are at warehouse doors and other receiving points in Hawaii naval installations. The Navy has not only made each RFID tag transaction information visible to its customers, but they have implemented interfaces between RFID technology and naval distribution systems. The successful progress of these improvements has led to analysis regarding whether RFID on vessels for onboard supply processes can be safely used within the Navy’s hazards of electromagnetic radiation to ordnance (HERO). If so, detailed asset tracking and visibility will be possible for shipboard supply.

The Air Force: Passive RFID tags are used for managing materials related to nuclear weapons. Each item requires two-person identification and documentation, and passive RFID is helping with these intensive item management inventory requirements. For example, inventory of an entire warehouse can now be completed in minutes with the use of handheld terminals. Items are tracked when they are moved from one area to another, one building to another, or one installation to another. Automatic alerts provide notifications when items do not arrive by their expected delivery time.

The Marine Corps: Currently, distribution managers are working to integrate passive RFID with their information systems. Not only will this bring an end to several processes completed by hand, but it could also lead to a significant reduction in human error. Each Marine Corps’ main base already has passive RFID systems that document on-base deliveries.

These are just a few examples of the military applications for RFID. Many more exist, such as the Army using passive RFID to track parachute processing from warehousing, inventory, packing, shipping, jumping and recovery. Implemented in the early 2000s, this has helped eliminate manual methods that are error-prone, labor-intensive and vulnerable to malicious tampering.

The Benefits of Military RFID Applications

• The list of benefits for the incorporation of RFID tags is impressive, both for the Department of Defense and its suppliers. For the DoD, the benefits include:
• Improved asset tracking
• Replacement of manual procedures
• Improved labor productivity
• Improved acceptance and receipt
• Automated acceptance and receipt
• For the DoD’s suppliers, the benefits include:
• Improved planning
• Increased ability to ensure supplies and equipment are stocked on DoD shelves
• Improved efficiency in the recall of defective items
• Faster receipt of payments
• Automated data capture results in efficient material recording, so the location of assets is available at all times.

RFID technology helps to eliminate the barriers created by these challenges. Here are some examples:

Challenge 1: Managing Equipment

There are a lot of valuable equipment in both Government and Military agencies. These assets need to be tracked, located, and maintained to ensure loss prevention and efficient usage. From the need to track voter equipment immediately following an election to the ability to automatically count the number of mortars fired from tank guns, every agency faces specific challenges when looking to effectively manage their equipment.

RFID technology can be applied to equipment, allowing for an automated way of locating these assets, tracking their usage, and determining maintenance schedules.

Challenge 2: Managing Inventory

A large array of inventory items are constantly used by agencies. Files and documents, identification cards and licenses, and any inventory as they move through the supply chain need to be managed efficiently. The ability to locate these items quickly, having real-time visibility of stock levels, or automating the verification process are the daily challenges that agencies face.

Affixing RFID tags to inventory items allows for automated registration of these assets and provides real-time access to inventory levels and locations.

Challenge 3: Managing Personnel

To ensure security and attain peak performance of personnel assets in all agencies, it is crucial to have the ability to track the location of employees, know the locations of soldiers, and identify the wounded in field hospitals.

By assigning RFID badges to every personnel and visitor, their identities can be verified and locations will be pinpointed to provide to maximum visibility.

Challenge 4: Controlling Access

For Government and Military agencies, security is the top priority. Securing zones and areas in a federal building or military base is crucial to protecting agency assets. In addition to protecting property from outsiders, it is also important to have the ability to grant access to various zones to agency personnel who have different access levels.

RFID badges given to personnel and visitors allow you to control access to sensitive zones within your facility. All access activity is logged into a database to provide your security team with a comprehensive list of reports

http://www.indianbarcodecorporation.com/knowledge-base

Contact us for more information about RFID & Barcode

Mindware

S -4, Plot No-7, Pocket-7, Pankaj Plaza,
Near Metro Station, Sector-12,
Dwarka, New Delhi-110078, (India)

+91-11-46102688 DIRECT LINE

 Mobile: +91-9810822688, +91-9717122688

 gm@indianbarcode.com

 http://www.indianbarcodecorporation.com

 https://www.indianbarcode.com

 http://indianbarcode.in

 http://www.mindwareindia.com

 http://www.barcodevault.co