Military personnel place their lives in danger daily and ensuring they receive the supplies required to perform their jobs places an importance on proper military standard packaging. The standards military packaging process requires that suppliers stick to very strict guidelines so that equipment and supplies survive the supply chain process. In the past, items that failed to meet the rigorous demands of military packaging possibly failed in the combat zone. Consequently, the Department of Defense meticulously reviews and enforces packaging and shipping procedures. Learn more by reading the DCMA Packaging and Marking Guide.
Military Standard Packaging at Work
Military Packaging Basics
The shipment of goods to military bases and operations around the world requires diligence in the adherence to packaging guidelines and regulations. Adherence to the methods and materials defined by Mil-Std-2073 is essential to ensuring that the equipment critical to the success of war fighters gets to them without damage, and maintains good operating condition while being stored in what are often very hostile conditions. Proper preservation and packaging ensures item readiness, and proper military packing ensures that items survives the rigors of transportation and storage in hostile conditions.
The Department of Defense enforces minimum military labeling requirements for marking unpacked items and the exterior of packages supplied to the military. For example, unit packs must have a minimum number of identifying pieces of information, including the National Stock Number, Unit of Issue and Part Number, in a specific order. In addition, contractors must include the contract or purchase order number on each container and the National Stock Number must be barcoded. UID and RFID requirements result in additional markings.
Understanding the minimum requirements for military packaging is essential to success, but many contractors find staying in compliance presents a challenge. Using automated systems to process military packaging can increase productivity and make the process easier.
What Is Military Packaging Software?
Sifting through the numerous packaging codes can slow down the best packaging team. Using software, such as the MIL-Comply Pack-2073 packaging database can ease the stress of ensuring the goods are in compliance. The Pack-2073 database offers an interface that allows a user to enter the Mil-Std-2073 packaging codes from the contract. Packaging requirements that are included in electronic purchase orders downloaded from DLA/DIBBS flow seamlessly into the labeling and WAWF shipping process. You can also create code breakdowns to ensure your packaging meets the basic requirements.
Proper military packaging requires the use of properly formatted military labels, in adherence with Mil-Std-129R. As these requirements become more and more technically rigorous the use of specially designed Mil-Std-129R labeling software, particularly to meet the need for IUID and RFID labels.
The importance of military standard packaging requires a highly detailed approach. Software from Mil-Pac Technology can assist new and seasoned suppliers with the rigors of meeting Department of Defense requirements. Solutions range from point solutions for labeling to complete shipping solutions that provide for WAWF automation to handle RFID and the large amounts of data that Wide Area Workflow IUID compliance demands.