What’s New in MIL‑STD‑130N Change 1? Essential Updates Explained

Recently, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) issued a change to MIL-STD-130. Published on November 16, 2012, MIL-STD-130 N Change 1 is the latest version of the standard. Below is an overview to help you better understand the change to this standard.
This change establishes direct and specific reference to the governing IUID policy, regulation and guidance by listing them in the reference section.  In addition, this update identifies the contractual support documents Data Item Descriptions (DIDs) to be used to require marking and IUID Registry Data delivery as well as DPM mark quality guidance.
There is clarifying language about the role of 130N in: defining legacy Item marking and registration; emphasizing the requirement for data delivery to the DoD IUID Registry; explaining the acceptability of including additional human readable text; and encoding additional non-IUID data in the machine readable markings.
This update also adds new language to address, including: marking very small items below the minimum symbol cell size where “contract requirements dictate a need for traceability of critical application items”; added more detailed discussion on using virtual Unique Item Identifiers (UIIs) for legacy item marking/registration; and how a fully concatenated UII encoded in the symbol takes precedence over all other data in the symbol.
The change also supports a request that originated with the United Kingdom that establishes a Data Identifier and Text Element Identifier for an “Export Controlled Item,” along with the business rules for construction to identify the particular nature of the controls or restrictions on material that is subject to export controls such as International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR).
Camcode is here to help you understand MIL-STD-130 and Item Unique Identification (IUID) requirements. As the former Senior Program Analyst for Traceability and Information Assurance for the DoD, I helped create the IUID policy, and know the standards inside and out. If you have specific questions about MIL-STD-130 N Change 1, please submit your question to our Ask an Expert section or post a question below.