57% of DoD shipments are deficient

According to Federal Computer Week, an Inspector General survey uncovered:

1. 10% of DoD contracts issued are missing the RFID requirement altogether.

2. 57% of RFID-required shipments are not being tagged by DoD suppliers.

Complete FCW report:  http://www.fcw.com/online/news/153934-1.html

Surprising? Not really. We still get calls about how to apply barcodes -- and barcodes have been required since the early 1980's. 

DoD shipping requirements are massive and unclear. It's very difficult to determine how to comply and is open interpretation.  Only the largest companies can afford a 'tagging expert' that understands the packaging requirements, tagging locations, and, now, RFID needs. 

To make it harder, tagging experts must also be politicians.  Shipping to the DoD requires delicate interaction with QAR's (Quality Assurance Reps) and DLA (Defense Logistics Agency) Receiving personnel to spin the correct tagging procedures for the crackdown-of-the-day.

CRACKDOWN!

And, that's how it works. Every 2-3 months, there is a staff meeting at DoD and someone says, "Don't let those crates in here untagged."   We know when it happens because our phones go nuts.  Next-Day orders for three dozen new customers in just a week.  Half the orders go TO the DLA facility so the contractors can hand-apply the RFID tags on the dock.  

The crackdowns end really quickly once the DLA sidelines about 30 trailer loads of product and realizes they can't continue because they will create a log jam of undelivered goods and their shipping yards fill up with special-handling needs.

How long will it take to make it all work?  According to the DoD's presentation at the 2008 DoD RFID Summit, the DoD predicts 2015 to be fully operational.