Aerospace and Defense

Aerospace

The aerospace industry includes aviation and space exploration and is therefore both a commercial and governmental enterprise. The industry uses a variety of barcode symbologies and marking methods to manage inventory, distribution, and repair. Barcode labeling systems include both linear symbologies (Code 39 - Regular, Code 128) and two-dimensional (2-D) symbologies (Data Matrix). Direct parts marking (DPM) systems generally use Data Matrix.

While some aerospace manufacturers have developed their own company-specific automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) systems, many have adopted GS1 standards for improved interoperability with other manufacturers, suppliers, and customers and for more efficient supply chain management. Additionally, some, such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), have adopted military standards.

Standards that apply to barcoding in the aerospace industry include:

  • ATA Spec 2000, Chapter 9 Automated Identification and Data Capture

  • AS-9132 Data Matrix (2D) Coding Quality Requirements for Parts Marking

  • ISO/IEC 16022 Information technology - Automatic identification and data capture techniques - Data Matrix bar code symbology specification

  • ISO/IEC 15416 Information technology - Automatic identification and data capture techniques - Bar code print quality test specification - Linear symbols

GS1 standards for barcoding in the aerospace industry include:

  • GS1 General Specifications

  • ISO/IEC 15418 GS1 Application Identifiers and ASC MH10 Data Identifiers and Maintenance

Military standards that are used for barcoding in the aerospace industry include: 

  • MIL-STD-130N with Change 1 Department of Defense Standard Practice: Identification Marking of U.S. Military Property

  • NATO Standardization Agreement (STANAG) 2290 NATO Unique Identification of Items

ATA Spec 2000, Chapter 9

The airline industry, represented by 12 international manufacture, repair, and supply associations, created ATA Spec 2000 to manage the aviation parts business. It covers specifications, products, and services that improve the efficiency and reliability of the parts supply chain. The Spec 2000 system has been in use since the 1970s and has expanded with advances in technology. Spec 2000 is administered by the Air Transport Association of America (ATA) e-Business Program, and its technical aspects are established and maintained by the ATA Supply Chain Management Interest Group (SCMIG).

ATA Spec 2000, Chapter 9: Automated Identification and Data Capture is the commercial aviation industry standard for the permanent identification of parts, the identification of shipping and receiving information, and traceability.

Spec 2000, Chapter 9 defines Code 39 and Code 128 as the preferred symbologies for permanent parts identification, but Data Matrix is commonly used where the marking area is limited. These symbologies encode Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) and NATO Supply Code for Manufacturers (NSCM) codes, which are five-position alphanumeric sequences that identify manufacturers, suppliers, and repair agencies. These codes are assigned by the Defense Logistics Services Center (DLSC).

AS-9132

The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) AS-9132 Data Matrix (2D) Coding Quality Requirements for Parts Marking standard defines quality and technical requirements for DPM for the aerospace industry and defines the use of the Data Matrix symbology for that purpose.

This standard is based on ISO/IEC 16022 Information technology - Automatic identification and data capture techniques - Data Matrix bar code symbology specification.

NASA

NASA adopted barcoding in the 1980s to increase the efficiency of its operations, but found that it was not ideally suited for DPM. Together with aerospace industry stakeholders, NASA developed and selected the Data Matrix symbol for use in NASA applications.

Currently, NASA uses the MIL-STD-130 and STANAG 2290 military standards to make sure that items are correctly identified with Data Matrix symbols. In addition to these, NASA has developed the NASA-STD-6002 Applying Data Matrix Identification Symbols On Aerospace Parts standard.

Data Matrix as used by NASA has two symbol types:

  • ECC 000-140, which uses convolution-based error checking and correction (ECC)

  • ECC 200, which uses Reed-Solomon error correction

Data Matrix ECC 200 is required for new NASA applications. Data Matrix ECC 000-140 is recommended for use only in in-house applications.

The components of the identification data that are encoded are as follows: 

  • CAGE or NSCM code

  • Part number (PN), typically 15 to 21 characters

  • Unique serial or lot number

These components are separated by an asterisk (which is the ASCII separator for machine-readable symbols) or a hyphen (which is used for the human readable interpretation).

Where space is limited, the PN can be substituted with an abbreviated traceability number, which consists of the CAGE or NSCM code and a unique seven-digit lot number or serial number, separated by an asterisk or hyphen.

The Data Matrix symbol is most often expressed in a square format, but for narrow parts or labels, a rectangular symbol can be used.

Defense

The main symbologies that are used by the defense industry worldwide include:

The components of the information that is encoded in these symbols vary according to the application they are being used for.

The military standards that define automatic identification of items for the US Department of Defense (DoD) are as follows:

  • MIL-STD-129P with Change 4 Department of Defense Standard Practice - Military Marking for Shipment and Storage: Defines the use of the Code 39 and PDF417 symbologies.

  • MIL-STD-130N with Change 1 Department of Defense Standard Practice: Identification Marking of U.S. Military Property: Defines the use of the Code 128 and Data Matrix symbologies for the Item Unique Identifier (IUID or UID) system.

The military standards that define unique identification of items for the implementation of the IUID system in North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member countries include:

  • AUIDP-1 NATO Guidance on Unique Identification (UID) of Items

  • DAOD 3010-1 Unique Identification and Standardization of Marking of Materiel

  • DEF STAN 05-132

  • STANAG 2290 NATO Standardization Agreement - NATO Unique Identification of Items

Item Unique Identification (IUID) Program

The Item Unique Identification (IUID) program was ratified by 15 nations in December 2007. Originally called the Unique Identification of Items (UID) Initiative, it provides a standardized system for the usage of the Unique Identifier (UID) or Unique Item Identifier (UII) for the US DoD, NATO, and other participating nations.

UIDs are typically encoded in Code 128, GS1-128, Data Matrix ECC 200, or GS1 DataMatrix. They are entered into a registry that allows manufacturers and suppliers to collect, manage, and share information related to the items.

  • MIL-STD-130N is the US DoD specification that regulates the implementation of the IUID program for the US military. It mandates the use of Code 39, Code 128, GS1-128, or EAN/UPC for applications that require a linear barcode symbol and Data Matrix ECC 200 or the GS1 DataMatrix (FNC1 syntax) for applications that require a 2-D symbol.

  • AUIDP-1 is the Allied Unique Identification of Items Publication standard, published by NATO. It mandates the use of GS1-128 for applications that require a linear barcode symbol and Data Matrix ECC 200 or PDF417 for applications that require a 2-D symbol.

  • DAOD 3010-1 is the Defence Administrative Orders and Directives standard for the IUID program, published by the Canadian military. It mandates the use of GS1-128 for applications that require a linear barcode symbol and PDF417 for applications that require a 2-D symbol.

  • DEF STAN 05-132 is the Defence Standardization standard for the IUID program, published by the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence. It is based on STANAG 2290.

  • STANAG 2290 is the NATO Standardization Agreement standard for the IUID program. Individual defense departments may have their own UID standards, such as the British Defence Ministry’s DEF STD 05-132, that incorporate the STANAG 2290 requirements.

Standards that apply to barcoding in the defense industry include:

  • ANSI MH10.8.6 Bar Codes and Two-Dimensional (2D) Symbols for Product Packaging

  • AS-9132 Data Matrix (2D) Coding Quality Requirements for Parts Marking

  • GS1 General Specifications

  • GS1 Guidelines for Department of Defense Unique Identification (UID) Marking Using the GS1 System

  • ISO/IEC 15415 Bar Code Print Quality Test Specification - Two- dimensional symbols

  • ISO/IEC 15416 Bar Code Print Quality Test Specification - Linear bar codes

  • ISO/IEC 15417 Information Technology - Automatic Identification and Data Capture Techniques - Code 128 bar code symbology specification

  • ISO/IEC 15418 Information technology - Automatic identification and data capture techniques - GS1 Application Identifiers and ASC MH10 Data Identifiers and maintenance

  • ISO/IEC 15420 Information technology - Automatic identification and data capture techniques - EAN/UPC bar code symbology specification

  • ISO/IEC 15424 Information technology - Automatic identification and data capture techniques - Data Carrier Identifiers (including Symbology Identifiers)

  • ISO/IEC 15426-1 Information technology - Automatic identification and data capture techniques - Bar code verifier conformance specification - Part 1: Linear symbols

  • ISO/IEC 15426-2 Information technology - Automatic identification and data capture techniques - Bar code verifier conformance specification - Part 2: 2D symbols

  • ISO/IEC 15434 Information technology, Automatic identification and data capture techniques - Syntax for high capacity ADC media

  • ISO/IEC 15438 Information Technology - Automatic Identification and Data Capture Techniques - Bar Code Symbology Specification - PDF417

  • ISO/IEC 15459-2 Information technology - Automatic identification technology and data capture techniques - Unique identifiers for item management - Part 2: Registration procedures

  • ISO/IEC 15459-3 Information technology, Automatic identification technology and data capture techniques - Unique identifiers for item management - Part 3: Common rules for unique identification

  • ISO/IEC 15459-4 Information technology, Automatic identification technology and data capture techniques - Unique identifiers for item management - Part 4: Unique item identification for supply chain management

  • ISO/IEC 16022 Information technology, Bar Code Symbology Specification - Data matrix

  • ISO/IEC 16388 Information Technology - Automatic Identification and Data Capture Techniques - Bar Code Symbology Specification - Code 39

  • MHIA MH10.8.1 Linear Bar Code and Two-Dimensional Symbols Used in Shipping, Receiving, and Transport Applications

  • MHIA MH10.8.2 Data Application Identifier Standard

  • Spec 2000, Chapter 9 Automated Identification and Data Capture

  • STANAG 2290 NATO Unique Identification of Items

  • STANAG 4329 NATO Standard Barcode Symbology