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Track and trace a piece of cake |
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Under JP2077, Defence will in April roll out a world-class “track and trace” system that will enable automated tracking of stores and equipment through the supply chain anywhere in the world, according to Director General Material Information Systems Brig David McGahey. Building on the existing Cargo Visibility System (CVS), the new capability incorporates Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology that will register specially tagged cargo as it passes fixed or mobile choke-point readers. The consignment’s progress can then be monitored by logging on to a DRN terminal. The successful trial of the CVS/RFID system culminated in a demonstration on December 6 at the Defence National Supply and Distribution Centre at Moorebank. Representatives from Joint Operations Command, Joint Logistic Group, Capability Development Executive, Service and operational headquarters, as well as a number of operational logistic units, attended the demonstration. They saw how a standard multi-pack consignment fitted with an active RFID tag had been tracked over several days without manual intervention as it passed through fixed readers at Defence facilities in Laverton, Edinburgh, Bandiana, Richmond and Moorebank. They were also shown how cargo can be tracked in real time from a freight distribution centre to arrival at a logistics facility in an offshore area of operations. Brig McGahey said the benefits of the CVS/RFID capability included reduced in-theatre handling requirements, automated tracking updates at multiple points along the supply chain, more accurate measurement of transit time and the ability to rapidly locate consignments in transit areas. “Active RFID tagging of containers and pallets will greatly enhance our visibility of vital equipment and spare parts as they travel through our Defence supply chain in support of military operations,” he said. “Feedback from logisticians in the theatre of operations on the implementation has been positive and I look forward to the roll-out of the technology.” The new CVS/RFID track and trace system is to be rolled out initially to the MEAO in April. It will be interoperable with Australia’s major Defence partners with an interoperability memorandum of understanding already signed with the US, UK and Canada. Interoperability testing between Australia and the US is under way with hardware installation complete and software updates currently in progress. More than 30 military sites in Australia are already equipped with fixed RFID readers. |
