PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-556
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 556
MARCH 1999
Supply . . .
PS 556
53
52
MAR 99
A: Source Codes
The first two positions of an SMR
code are the source, which tells you
how you get a part. It also explains
why a part sometimes doesn’t have an
NSN.
C: Recoverability Codes
The fifth and last position tells if the
item is repairable and who disposes of
the item if it can’t be repaired. Z means
the item’s not repairable and the level
that replaces it also disposes of it.
O means you can repair it and dis-
pose of it. F, H, D, K, or L means the
item must be repaired or disposed of at
a higher level.
A recoverability code of A means
the item requires special handling or
disposal and you will probably need
outside help. The equipment’s TMs,
the Safety Office, and the Logistics
Assistance Office are good places to
look for info on special handling
requirements.
The fourth letter shows if the item
is repairable and the lowest level of
maintenance that can do the complete
repair.
B: Maintenance Codes
The SMR’s third and fourth posi-
tions give maintenance info. The third
letter tells what level of maintenance
can replace the item—C or O means
you can replace it.
So,
learn the
ABC
s
of the
five-letter
code.
MOST SOURCE
CODES ARE SIMPLE, BUT
NOT THE X’
S
!
the
thirD
and
fourth
positions
are for mAintenance
codes.
the
fifth
position covers
repairability
and
disposal
.
Not understanding
the SMR code-
-those five
letters as
signed to every
part in every parts manual-
-
can mean not getting a
part and not repairing
your equipment.
Both
XB
and
XD
items
will take a long time to
arrive-
-and may never.
The SMRs beginning with
X
require
special treatment.
XA
means order the next higher
assembly.
XB
tells you to try to get the part
from salvage before ordering. If you
can’t, order the part by using advice
code 2A in card columns 65-66 of a
DD Form 1348-6.
XD
means the item’s not stocked,
but the item manager will try to find
you one. Order it the same way as XB
parts.
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