The Indian Army commenced implementation of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tagging of its ammunition inventory today. The first consignment of RFID tagged ammunition, comprising three lots of 5.56mm ammunition was despatched from Ammunition Factory Khadki to Central Ammunition Depot (CAD) Pulgaon. The event was flagged off by the Director General Ordnance Services.
The
RFID implementation has been steered by the Ordnance Services
Directorate of the Indian Army, in conjunction with Munitions India
Limited (MIL), Pune, the newly created entity formed post
corporatisation of the Ordnance Factories Board (OFB).
The
RFID tagging is in conformity with global standards in consultation
with GS-1 India, a Global Standards organisation set up by the Ministry
of Commerce and Industry. The RFID tags will be interpreted and used for
assets tracking by the Enterprise Resource Application run by the
Computerised Inventory Control Group (CICG) of the Ordnance Services
Directorate.
The
implementation of the RFID solution for ammunition asset visibility
will transform management of ammunition and bring in a quantum jump in
ammunition lot management and tracking capability. The endeavour will
make ammunition storage and use by soldiers safer and provide enhanced
satisfaction to the field Army. The implementation shall lead to
increased efficiency in all technical activities carried out in
Ammunition Depots and reduce inventory carrying costs.