Ervin Barclay, right, checks iCIIT to see what parts at Anniston Army Depot are a top pririty as David Coleman scans an item into its next process in the Cleaning, Finishing and Painting Division. Following proper scanning procedures in CAMS for work...

ANNISTON ARMY DEPOT, Ala. -- On Oct. 1, 2017, the Complex Assembly Manufacturing Solution for the Logistics Modernization Program Work in Progress Tracking took the place of the Depot Total Asset Visibility system at Anniston Army Depot.

This enabled LMP to begin to track work in progress throughout the installation.

"We still print route tags to hang on all the conveyances. We still scan those route tags as they move through the plant. But, the information now ties tracking into LMP," said Jeb Nabors, a maintenance management specialist for the depot's Directorate of Production Management.

The core function of WIP Tracking is to provide real-time visibility of parts movement throughout the depot.

However, route tags are also used by artisans in the shops to capture start and stop data in CAMS.

Once stored in LMP, that data is integrated into the depot's Industrial Complex Integrated Information Tracker, also known as iCIIT, which prioritizes work throughout the installation.

It is important for all employees to perform the proper transactions in CAMS for all processes and to place the correct tag on the correct conveyance prior to sending it to the next process.

According to Nabors, mishanging the tags can lead to misidentified material, which can result in lost material or rework, due to misprocessing.

"One of the continuous problems the depot experiences is incorrect route tags," said Nabors. "Anyone who notices an incorrect route tag should notify their supervisor and planning staff immediately to get the problem resolved."

THE FUTURE OF WIP

The next step for WIP tracking throughout the installation will come in the form of radio frequency identification.

During the next two years, RFID will replace the traditional route tag scanning operations.

Currently, employees must touch each route tag and scan them individually in order to enter the change of location into LMP.

Once RFID is implemented, an employee will be able to scan all conveyances within a location simultaneously.

"This will cut scanning time by about 90 percent," said Nabors. "It will also increase scanning accuracy exponentially and, ultimately, drive 100 percent parts traceability."

Route tags will still be used, but an RFID tag will be placed on each of them.

The RFID program is being implemented with the assistance of Auburn University's RFID lab, Army Shared Services Center and LMP Project Management Office.