UID stands for Unique Identification. It is used by the Department of Defense to maintain their inventory. The UID is created by combining a manufacturers ID and part number with other characters, forming a unique identifier. The UIDs are sketched onto the product labels with a laser. This takes up less space than a barcode. A UID is required on all items received by the department of defense that cost more than $5,000.00.
The Department of Defense has a MIL STD 130N standard for UIDs. This standard defines the quality of the label material as well as the information used to generate the UID value.
What exactly is a 3M 7847 UID?
3M is a company formerly known as Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company. 3M produces adhesives, laminates, electronics, optical films and a few other similar products. 3M 7847 is a special label material created to be kiss cut by a laser. The Department of Defense uses this label material for inventory items that have a UID that complies with MIL STD 130N. 3M markets the 3M 7847 UID material directly to the Department of Defense because of its durability. The 3M 7847 UID label can withstand temperatures from -76F to 440F. The matte surface of the 3M 7847 label provides good readability of the UID barcode. There are also no corrosive emissions during the laser marking and the 3M 7847 UID is made of destructible facestock material for security labeling.
For more detailed information about all the requirements of the MIL STD 130N and making the 3M 7847 UID compliant with that standard, readers of this article should refer to the experts at ID-Integration.