1. NATO Codification System becomes e-Commerce baseline
Piet Wiersma
(former deputy director NL NCB)
NATO Codification Consultant
Tel:

2. CONTENT OF PRESENTATION
NATO Codification System overview
NATO suppliers and the NCS
eOTD developments 2

3. CODIFICATION CHRONOLGY
1929
1945
1949
1952
1954
1956
1966
1974
1978
1991
1994
1999
2002
WWII
PL152
SUPPLY CLASSIFICATION
PL436
CODIFICATION SYSTEM
NATO
STANAG 3150
STANAG 3151
DLSC
This chart shows the historic development of the NATO Codification System since World War I era, including the milestones that established the legal framework of the system.
NCB CODE
PFP
PACS
BASELOG
E-Commerce 5

4. OVERVIEW Elements of the NATO Codification System (NCS):
Standard Item Names
The classification structure
Item Identification Guides
NATO Stock Numbers (NSNs)
The benefits of having a disciplined data structure

5. Purpose of NATO Codification
To establish a common supply language throughout all logistics operations
To enable interoperability
To optimize resource management by minimizing duplication in inventories

6. Standard Item Names
The NATO Codification System utilizes a UNIFORM Item Name for an Item of Supply
Every Item Name has been assigned an Item Name Code
The NATO Item Name Directory contains some Standard Item Names with their definitions
Item Name Directory is multi-lingual

7. (I expect this item soon)
How Many Languages Are Spoken Here?
Nie mam w zasobach NSN-a (I have this NSN in stock)
Help, I need NSN
Saya ada NSN di dalam simpanan.
(I have the NSN in stock)
Peaks saabuma varsti
(I expect this item soon)

8. NATO SUPPLY CLASSIFICATION GROUPS AND CLASSES
NSC GROUP 10
GROUP NUMBER
NSC WEAPONS
GROUP NAME NOTE: This group includes combat weapons as well as
weapon-like noncombat items, such as line throwing devices
and pyrotechnic pistols. Excluded from this group are fire
control and night devices classifiable in groups 12 or 58.
NSC Guns, through 30 mm
CLASS Includes Machine Guns; Brushes, Machine Gun and Pistol.
Excludes Turrents, Aircraft
NSC Guns, over 30 mm up to 75mm
CLASS NAME Includes Breech Mechanisms; Mounts; Grenade Launchers
for Integral-Cartridge Grenades, Single-Shot or Auto-Loading
or Automatic-Firing

9. NATO STOCK NUMBER (NSN) NAVY ARMY AIR FORCE OTHER DEPARTMENTS
MANUFACTURERS
IDENTIFICATION
SYSTEM
USERS
CODIFICATION
DUNLOP
NAVY ARMY AIR FORCE OTHER DEPARTMENTS
SPTGM
GOODYEAR TIRE CO
SRLER
This chart shows the structure and concept of the NATO Stock Number (NSN). The first four characters display the commodity group and class (NATO Supply Class). In this case the “2610” indicates the NSC “Tires and Tubes, Pneumatic, Except Aircraft” in the NATO Supply Group “Tires and Tubes.”
Columns 4 and 5 in the NSN display the country that assigned the NSN, in this case “14” for France.
The last 7 columns of the NSN are a randomly assigned number that uniquely identifies a specific item of supply concept.
GOODYEAR FRANCE
UNISRL
CUP SNC
Single Stock Number
1100R20GSRT4-16PR 11

10. ITEM IDENTIFICATION GUIDES

11. ITEM DESCRIPTION
Purpose: Determine all relevant characteristics of an NSN
Characteristics
AAEL - Threads per inch
AAJD - Thread class
AASK - Head Style
AASL - Head Diameter
AATR - Shank Length
AATT - Eye Offset
AAWX - Concentric Hole Depth
AAXC - Concentric Hole Diameter
CQFM - Hardness Rating
CSXG - Offset Angle
Other Data Elements
- Hazardous
- Environmentally Friendly
- Precious Metals
Line Drawing
of a bolt
Picture of a bolt

12. THSD: Thread Series Designator AHYM: Nominal Thread Diameter
An externally threaded fastener whose threaded portion is of one nominal
diameter, No 0 (0.060 in./1.5 mm) or larger, designed to be held or driven
with either a wrench or an inserted driver or both (excluding internal
socket or internal multiple spline types), in sizes below No. 10 (0.190
in./5 mm). No. 10 and larger sizes must have a head designed for any type
inserted driver (excluding internal socket or internal multiple spline
types), but may also be designed for external wrenching. A locking feature
may be incorporated in the design of the head or threads. Excludes BOLT,
CLEVIS; BOLT, EXTERNALLY RELIEVED BODY; SCREW, EXTERNALLY RELIEVED BODY; and
SCREW, ASSEMBLED WASHER. See also, SCREW, INSTRUMENT; BOLT, MACHINE; BOLT,
INTERNAL WRENCHING; and SCREW, CAP SOCKET HEAD.
Information:
AASK: Head Style
THSD: Thread Series Designator
AHYM: Nominal Thread Diameter
AASA: Thread Length
AASB: Fastener Length

13. NCS FACTS
The purpose of the NATO Codification System is to identify items so they can be controlled and managed in inventory
The most important principle of the system is to prevent duplication
The NCS is used throughout the supply chain in all aspects of logistics:
Acquisition
Supply management/asset tracking
Maintenance
Disposal

14. NSN STATISTICS
Approximately 16 million NATO Stock Numbers have been assigned
More than 6 million by the U.S. and 9 million by the other NATO countries
Approximately 31 million manufacturers’ partnumbers have been registered on these NSNs

15. THE NATO CODIFICATION SYSTEM (NCS)
Approximately 1.4 million manufacturers and other organizations are registered
These NSNs contain more than 22 million user registrations
There are various ways to look at the NCS. But it is important to realize that it is an operational system that has proved its value over the years, and that it is a dynamic system that is constantly adapted by its users to meet their requirements. The system is even flexible enough to deal with some divergent requirements. Some countries are just beginning to implement the NCS in their logistics system, others are at the forefront and striving to use the NCS to its full potential.
For more info: 3

16. NATO Codification System Sponsored Nations
NATO countries
NATO countries
Sponsored non
Sponsored non - -
NATO countries
NATO countries
Nonparticipating countries
Nonparticipating countries

17. ECCMA INITIATIVE
NATO Allied Committee 135 is working with Electronic Commerce Code Management Association (ECCMA)
When ECCMA found out about the NATO Codification System, they were astounded by how complete and how fully developed it is. The fact that we have some 35,000 structured item names and more than 20,000 different attributes (Master Requirements Codes that describe items) made them realize that the NCS has the tools they need to rapidly launch a global descriptive standard for E-commerce. ECCMA started working on a system in which companies will be able to create catalogs and product specifications in ECCMA quickly, easily, and at little or no cost using the principles of the NCS.

18. NATO/ECCMA INITIATIVE
NCS tools and data have provided for the rapid launch of a global descriptive standard for e-Commerce
Companies will be able to create catalogs and product specifications in XML quickly, easily and at little or no cost using the ECCMA Open Technical Dictionary (eOTD)
When ECCMA found out about the NATO Codification System, they were astounded by how complete and how fully developed it is. The fact that we have some 35,000 structured item names and more than 20,000 different attributes (Master Requirements Codes that describe items) made them realize that the NCS has the tools they need to rapidly launch a global descriptive standard for E-commerce. ECCMA started working on a system in which companies will be able to create catalogs and product specifications in ECCMA quickly, easily, and at little or no cost using the principles of the NCS.

19. NATO/ECCMA INITIATIVE
Companies will be able to build these catalogs and search for items using builder/browser software freely available on the Web
Multilingual support
In this system that ECCMA is developing, companies will be able to describe items in accordance with the NATO Codification System on their own Web sites. This system is known as the ECCMA Open Technical Dictionary, or eOTD.

20. COMPANY CATALOGS AND NCS
Company catalogs can be synchronized with the NCS through eOTD
eOTD is based on the NCS and NCS and eOTD data are fully translatable from one system to another
Companies can synchronize their catalogs with eOTD in the same manner that countries joining the NCS have synchronized

21. The value of information is proportional to:
Its relevance
Its timeliness
Its accuracy
Its accessibility

22. A vision realized
The NATO Codification/Cataloging System is the foundation of an international standard for product and service descriptions
The eOTD is an open standard for encoding product data through the life cycle of a product – from design through disposal
This is the vision for the future: All governments, all companies and other organizations share the same product information, regardless of what information systems and what computer applications they use, regardless of what their purpose is for using the data…..a true shared data resource for all is achieved

23. Standard Terminology Terminology Terminology eOTD Concept Registry
SDO
Terminology
eOTD
Concept Registry
(metadata registry)
SDO
Terminology
Terminology
SDO
Terminology
Terminology
Public domain concept identifiers
Free identifier resolution to underlying terminology (web services)
Hyperlink to source standards
Multilingual
Multiple terms, definitions and images linked to single concept identifier
GSA-IAE
Terminology

24. Industry Identification Guides
An Identification Guide allows a recipient of information (typically a buyer) the ability to define and publish their data requirements in terms of the standards to be used for data encoding (syntax and semantic encoding) and for defining completeness.

25. Common terminology = common mapping
Machine Bolt; Product Number: ; Nominal thread diameter: 1.0 inches; Width across flats: inches; Width across corners: inches; Head height: inches; Count per pack: 10; Pack price: $0.80
Rendered
Property ID Value Measure ID
eOTD
Coded
Property term Value Measure term eOTD CLASS NAME BOLT:MECHANICAL
PRODUCT NUMBER
NOMINAL THREAD DIAMETER 1.0 INCHES
WIDTH ACROSS FLATS INCHES
WIDTH ACROSS CORNERS INCHES
HEAD HEIGHT INCHES
COUNT PER PACK 10
PACK PRICE US DOLLAR
XML
Identifiers
Resolved
eOTD

26. Common metadata mapping across applications
Common Concept Encoding
Customer
Production
Across the supply chains
ERP masters: vendor/customer/material
Manufacturing/production
Facilities/raw materials
Human resources
Data life cycle management – design through disposal
Vendor
Facilities
Material
The future: As more and more ERP solutions grow within both government and industry, new concepts are applied to capturing data on not just material and vendors but we now have very specific customer information as well. As the global economy expands, focus is brought onto the identification of capabilities to produce items through identifying facilities and raw materiel capabilities, better addressing the problem of diminishing manufacturing.
The concept of weapons system life cycle management broadens our focus onto life cycle management of the data itself.
Human Resources
Common metadata mapping across applications
eOTD

27. International Standards
ISO is a standard that that covers the tools for encoding data (*expected to be published in 2006)
Part 13 Format of concept identifiers
Part 14 Resolution of concept identifiers
Part 30 Identification Guide format
Part 40 Catalog format
ISO 8000 is a standard for information quality in terms of encoding, completeness, origination and accuracy (*expected to be published in 2007)
The future: eOTD is an ISO standard that has been adopted widely by industry. ISO Standard is now known to all design engineers and is included in the curriculum of engineering schools. The partner standard to ISO 22745, ISO Standard 8000, certifies that companies’ catalogs contain eOTD compatible data and is that the data is of high quality.

28. Integrated distributed information
eOTD encoded information in XML resident on government and industry websites
Accurate and seamless data retrieval
ABC
Corp.
DOD
MoD
Customer
The future: The eOTD is now fully integrated into government and industry Web sites and it facilitates data exchange and product searching on a large scale, 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. Every day, thousands of people at computer terminals and using handheld devices around the globe exchange data and search for items using eOTD. These users include engineers, procurement officials, and logisticians, and they operate from scores of countries.

29. ISO 8000 (in development) Labeling:
Each data element must be tagged using a globally unique identifier that can be resolved to its terminology through a free (anonymous) internet interface.
Originating and cataloging organizations:
The originating and cataloging organizations for each data element must be identified using globally unique identifiers that can be resolved to contact information through a free (anonymous) internet interface.
Origination and cataloging date:*
The origination and cataloging date of each data element must be specified.

30. Summary-Desired Outcomes
A robust interoperable standard for labeling metadata for acquisition, product support, configuration management and logistics
An open and compatible standard for seamless data retrieval by business and government entities
Information quality through standard encoding and the identification of origin

31. Proposal to PELC Insist on access to quality information
Develop Standard eOTD Identification Guides to define your data requirements
Promote alignment and interoperability among standards efforts by insisting on standard data labeling (internally and externally)
Encourage your data providers to prepare for ISO 8000