Original Date: 09/14/1998
Revision Date: 01/18/2007

One of Raytheon Missile Systems Company’s (RMSC’s) services is depot-level repairs of military defense system parts, assemblies, and subassemblies. The marking requirements for identifying remanufactured, repaired, and modified parts and assemblies are often specified in the federal government’s Technical Data Package (TDP). Typically, these requirements call for etching; epoxy ink and rubber stamps; stenciling; inked plastic tags; hot stamped insulation; or marked heat-shrink tubing. Many of these techniques are labor intensive for the small quantities associated with depot-level repairs, and usually generate hazardous waste materials.

RMSC launched a Single Process Initiative (SPI) to investigate alternative marking capabilities and methods, and to obtain customer concurrence for using improved and more cost-effective methods. After analyzing alternative marking methods, the SPI team proved that many of the TDP marking requirements could be satisfied with COTS marking systems. These COTS systems are relatively inexpensive and do not generate hazardous waste. RMSC now marks its repaired items by using imprinted polyamide labels for flat or slightly cylindrical parts, and imprinted commercial, heat shrinkable labels or wraparound, self-laminating labels for wires, cables and harnesses. The company has received concurrence from DOD customers to use these methods for marking depot-level repaired parts.

RMSC’s technique for marking parts and equipment offers many benefits and is easily adaptable to any size organization. The technique reduces marking application time, lowers costs, increases productivity, and meets the part identification requirements of TDP. In addition, this method supports the practice of implementing commercial processes which meet military specifications. RMSC estimates that its first-year cost savings is in excess of $20,000.

For more information see the Point of Contact for this survey.