NEW CUMBERLAND, PA. (USTCNS) --- As part of the Department of Defense efforts to transform its distribution system, new portals, expanding current technology at the Defense Distribution Centers largest site got the green light last week.
More than 300 passive radio frequency identification portals will be installed across DDCs global logistics network in the next few months. The first of those portals was installed last week at Defense Distribution Depot Susquehanna, Pa.
This week representatives from ODIN Technologies, the company awarded the installation contract, are running test pallets by each of the newly installed portals to validate equipment readiness, antennae placement and network connectivity, according to Larry Loiacono, DDC information operations wireless team leader.
This (test) simulates the receipt of a shipment from a supplier that uses passive RFID technology either voluntarily or in compliance with DOD contract clauses. Typically, those pallets will contain passive RFID tags on each case of materiel as well as one tag that covers the entire pallet, Loiacono said.
The test pallet is passed through the portal 10 times as a nearby technician watches a laptop computer that shows which tags are read. Each of the 20 tags on the test pallet must be read successfully every time before the portal is accepted.
Both generation one and generation two tags are being used on the test pallet. According to Loiacono, both tag types have been read successfully.
Under the current project, DDSP has been outfitted with 55 additional portals 32 at DDSPs main site in New Cumberland, and 23 at a detachment facility in Mechanicsburg, Pa.
DDSP has had four passive RFID portals operating since December 2004, and has been successfully reading tags and providing electronic acceptance to the Defense Finance and Accounting Service system.
DDSP, located in New Cumberland, is the largest distribution operation in the Department of Defense, receiving about 40,000 new procurement shipments each month.
This enhancement of existing passive RFID infrastructure brings DDC into compliance with the DOD policy requiring that DOD distribution centers can receive passive RFID tags as suppliers begin tagging their products in accordance with acquisition regulations.
As a pioneer in the use of passive RFID technology, the current initiative to augment our existing passive RFID infrastructure demonstrates DDCs commitment to enabling each of our 26 distribution centers around the world to receive shipments tagged with passive RFID, said Janet Cravener, chief of DDCs logistics policy division.
Across the organization, less than 7 percent of the material entering DDC distribution centers is tagged with passive RFID, but Loiacono said that number should increase substantially as more suppliers begin tagging shipments.
ODIN Technologies representatives will add 49 portals to the existing passive RFID infrastructure at DDCs second largest site, Defense Distribution Depot San Joaquin in Tracy, Calif., next week.
All 19 of DDCs distribution centers in the continental United States will be equipped with RFID portals by September. Portal installation at DDCs seven overseas sites will be complete in 2007.
The contract to install the portals was awarded to ODIN Technologies in May. Psion Teklogix was awarded the contract in June to install the associated software.
