UID Standard Policy has been mandated by the US Department of Defense (DoD) to be followed for all defense related equipments manufactured on or after Jan. 1, 2004. Through the UID Standard Policy, the DoD can significantly keep track of the military items and thus counterfeiting of parts can be stopped. As a result, logistics as well as business transactions supporting U.S. and coalition troops will be improved. This landmark policy applies equally to legacy and all newly requisitioned government furnished property (GFP).

The urgency and significance of unique identification has motivated the DoD to require unique identification through UID Standard Policy. The DoD leveraged existing part marking standards as the foundation in constructing the UID Standard Policy. UID marking capability as per the UID Standard is determined by comparing the characteristics of the item to be marked with the processes, requirement and knowledge of the manufacturer of the item.

UID Standard Policy involves two processes. The first process involves item marking and the second process involves delivering data about items as part of the acceptance and delivery process. The unique item or UID marking consists of a unique 2-Dimensional data matrix symbol which consists of Serial Number, Part Number, and CAGE Code for every the product. This 2-D data matrix symbol can done by dot peen, ink jet, durable polyester, chemical etch or laser mark.

UID Standard Policy requirement criteria
* All items whose acquisition cost is $5,000 or more
* For all DoD-recognized UID equivalent items available
* When program manager determines that UID is required or when UID is a component of a delivered item
* Items are mission essential, controlled inventory piece of equipments, serially managed, repairable items, or consumable items where permanent identification is required UID Standard Policy goes beyond marking and traceability.

As per a study by Data Capture Institute 2004, as much as 20% of capital goods budgets were wasted on acquiring property that was already owned or on the mistimed purchase of property when a substitute was already available. With proper UID marking and implementation, assets and property can be traced throughout the lifecycle. As per the UID Standard Policy, marking ought to be in uniform manner. There are a couple of ways to incorporate the UID Standard Policy into existing processes. The first option is to have a separate nameplate made exclusively in accordance with the UID policy. The second option is to incorporate the new UID policy into the existing product identification. Often, the existing nameplate is adequate enough to house the 2D DataMatrix symbol which is a marking standard as per the UID policy.

Futute of UID Standard Policy
The UID Standard Policy has both short-term as well as long-term benefits. In short-term benefit, items that are marked properly and data that are submitted electronically on deliverables through Wide Area Workflow (WAWF) will facilitate improvised data quality both for the industry as well as the government. Better logistics in acquisition and tracking means better functional processes. In the long-term benefit, the UID Standard Policy will become a key factor in all accountability and accounting systems.