To Bar-code or Not to Bar-code…. that is the question

1. To Bar-code or Not to Bar-code….that is the question Yvette Arguijo, HQ AETC/A7CAN Dwight Bird, EM Assist

2. Two Basic Reasons to Barcode

3. Inventory To know where all HAZMATs are on the installation at any one given period of time

4. InventoryWhere can all the HAZMAT Be?

5. 1 - Inventory - HAZMART • Whether you bar-code or not EMIS knows how much is in inventory • Condition: Must have all inventory locations identified and operating as HAZMARTS • If you don’t have all your inventory locations in EMIS - you are not fully implemented and you have other problems…. • EPCRA 311/312 requirements

6. EPCRA 311/312 • Report each chemical where max quantity on-site at any time meets thresholds • Must know where inventory is base wide • Tracking receipts and issues is not enough • All hazmat inventory locations (outside of shop stock) must be in EMIS

7. 2 - Inventory - In the Shop • Whether you bar-code or not, the shop is not a storage area for large quantities of hazardous material • Shops should have only small quantities of material - basically what they will use in a process over a short period of time • If the shops begin to store and hoard material - then you would have to either bar-code or make them a HAZMART! • EESOH-MIS allows tracking of shop inventory • Don’t forget inventory other than shop material for use must be in EMIS or you cannot do your EPCRA reporting properly

8. 3 - Inventory - In a Process • Material in a process tank or other piece of equipment • Whether you barcode or not, EMIS does not currently track HAZMATs in equipment • For us to care, it would have to be an EPCRA reportable item and be in large quantities not only in the equipment but elsewhere on base

9. Inventory - Bottom Line • Knowing our processes, materials and inventory is sufficient to adequately report - if we maintain supply discipline • Knowing more is better but…... WANT IT CAN’T AFFORD IT!

10. Inventory • So what if I just gotta know? • EMIS (and EESOH) - it’s not an all or nothing choice • EMIS has the ability to turn on sequential tracking by NSN • micro-manage the fewest commodities absolutely necessary • EESOH has increased flexibility in determining what to manage/bar-code

11. Accountability To know who the HAZMAT was issued to

12. Accountability For the HM Manager there is NO regulatory driver Whether you barcode or not, EMIS currently tracks what shop material was issued to, when it was issued, and how much was issued

13. Accountability • Con: Dumpster Story! • Pro: Borrowing and Lending • Pro: Inspections • Bottom Line: • Would you like to know?……...Yes • Do you need to know?…………..NO • Can you afford to know?……...NO • Bottom-Bottom Line: No regulatory requirement to enforce personal integrity but we still don’t trust them

14. Barcoding Configurations in EMIS No Barcoding Barcode - no sequential tracking Barcode at time of issue or time of receipt Barcode - with sequential tracking Barcode at time of issue or time of receipt Manual Barcode - with sequential tracking Barcode at time of issue or time of receipt Manual Barcoding - no sequential tracking Barcode at time of issue or time of receipt

15. Sequential Tracking vs Barcoding • Sequential tracking is the numbering of every container • If Sequential Tracking is enabled then it also requires notification to the system as to when a specific container is emptied/consumed • Barcode labeling is the visible method by which you know the specific number of a container • Numbering occurs in EMIS whether you chose to put the visible barcode label on it or not

16. POINT OF USE Inventory Management in EMISNo Sequential Tracking Adds containers to HAZMART Inventory Receive Transaction Subtracts containers from HAZMART Inventory and Records Issue to Shop HAZMARTInventory - + Issue Transaction Shop

17. POINT OF USE Inventory Management in EMISSequential Tracking Adds containers to HAZMART Inventory Receive Transaction Subtracts containers from HAZMART Inventory HAZMARTInventory - Issue Transaction + Adds containers to SHOPInventory ShopInventory + Shop must tell System WHEN each container is empty to subtract from Shop Inventory! - ClearBarcodeTransaction

18. Methods to Clear Barcodes • Return empty containers • Return peeled off labels • Send in a list of barcode numbers • Call in barcode numbers • Go to EMIS terminal and clear • Have system auto clear periodically – what most people are doing now The ONLY Real Way to know for SURE is to see the empty container!!

19. Accountability – Bottomline • We don’t trust users to the point that we must sequentially track BUT…. • We do trust them to tell us daily each container that is emptied • If you really don’t trust them – you must look at the empty container……

20. The HOT-PINKSmiley Face Label For Accountability purposes only – ANY label can be affixed to the products to show they have been processed through the HAZMAT Tracking System

21. The “Albertson’s Method” • Grocery Gun Labels • The low tech solution • Quick, inexpensive • Works great for accountability • Does not work for inventory

22. ? Why does bar-coding work so well in a Grocery Store and other retail operations and not for us?

23. Reasons Not to Barcode • We can meet our regulatory compliance requirements today without the use of bar-coding • Manpower Intense • Affixing barcodes • Ensuring proper barcode is issued • Policing shops who don’t turn in barcodes • Clearing barcodes • Expensive • No reliable way to clear barcodes so if effort is for inventory - not effective • Not enough value added success stories to barcode for accountability purposes • Current systems do not facilitate easy bar-coding • Scanners • Hand-held devices • Application to support

24. Reasons to Barcode • If done correctly – most accurate inventory • Easier surveillance

25. OK, I hear you but… • …..you still want to do it! • AFI supports bar-coding as efficient tracking, but allows MAJCOMs to choose best method for them • Bottom line: your decision