PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-710
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 710
JANUARY 2012
Shelf life for a product
begins on the date of
manufacture and lasts until
its packaging is opened or
the product expires. Some
examples of shelf-life
items include:
Go to our blog at
http://halfmastpsmag.
wordpress.com
to see
ways to extend shelf life
for Type II items.
51
PS 710
JAN 12
For more information, visit DOD’s shelf-life website:
For assistance, contact the Army shelf-life POC at
DSN 795-7685, (570) 615-7685, or email:
sles.army@dla.mil
Shelf Life: It’s About
More
Than Old Bread
Shelf-life codes tell you the date by which you must use, inspect/test/restore or
dispose of items. You’ll ±nd codes and policies in Appendix E of DOD 4140.27-M,
Shelf-Life Management Manual.
View or download it here:
There are two types of shelf-life supplies. Type I items have de±ned, non-
extendible shelf lives. Their usefulness ends on their expiration date. Type II items
have assigned shelf-life periods that may be extended after inspections, tests,
or restoration.
Shelf Life
M
ost of us know something about shelf life. At home or the grocery store, we
check expiration dates on bread or milk to be sure the product’s still good.
But sometimes, the difference between shelf life and service life causes confusion
in Army supply circles. Every supply item has a useful life expectancy, but shelf life
and service life are two different stages in an item’s life.
Service Life
Shelf life ends and service life begins when packaging is opened and an item
enters use. This transition also occurs when a shelf-life item is installed, placed in a
bin or held as bench stock.
Service life is a general term for the average or standard life expectancy of an
item when it’s in use. More testing and inspection are needed once an item enters its
service life. You’ll ±nd the service life testing and inspection requirements for some
items in their technical manuals.
However, many consumable Type I (non-reparable) items do not have speci±c
service lives. If there is any doubt about the safety or serviceability of an item,
dispose of it properly.
•
food
•
medicines
•
batteries
•
paints
•
sealants
•
adhesives
•
film
•
tires
•
chemicals
•
packaged petroleum products
•
hoses/belts
•
mission-critical O-rings
•
CBRN equipment and clothing
•
Requisition/procure items in smaller quantities and units
of issue. Use Supply Support Requests when necessary.
•
Reduce inventory stockage levels.
•
Requisition items just-in-time.
•
Practice stock rotation, i.e. first-in, first-out (FIFO).
•
Maintain required prescribed storage conditions,
particularly for shelf life items which are hazardous
materials.
•
Extend Type II shelf life items by:
−
using test results from the Shelf Life Extension
System (SLES).
−
testing samples when cost effective, or
−
accomplishing authorized visual inspections or
restoration procedures.
•
Label extended Type II items using DD Form 2477 series
labels, available from the DoD Shelflife website.
•
Prepare Supply Discrepancy Reports (SDR) when issued
outdated shelf life items.
•
Submit shelf life code challenges to the DoD Shelflife
website when experience indicates a change is needed.
•
Process outdated items promptly for disposal.
•
Obtain shelf-life training at the DoD Shelflife website.
•
Follow tech pub guidance when managing service life.
Shelf Life: It’s About
More
Than Old Bread
Supply
Management…
effective
shelf life and
service life
management
techniques…
hey, sarge. shelf
life only applies to
things like food and
medicines, right?
think again,
private.
shelf life
applies to
many
items
in stock
here.
like
this old
bread!
710 50-51.indd
1-2
11/23/11
3:03 PM
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