Glossary

AC135

Allied Committee 135 is a NATO committee responsible for the management and strategy of the NATO Codification System.

ACodP1

It is the codification bible. It describes all the principles and rules of codification.

ACodP2/3

Regroups the item names and the group and class of items in codification. You can now find these information in the Name and Class lookup tool.

Groups and Class

Categories that allow classifying an item of supply. The group and classes have numbers identification that you can find in an NSN.

Characteristics data

Describe essential characteristics of an item of supply.

Codifier

Individual responsible for identifying and codifying an item, usually working for a National Codification Bureau or Ministry of Defense.

Item of supply

Designates an item of production or group of items of production, which has been defined by a qualified logistics service to meet a specific requirement.

Item Name

When an item is codified, the codifier looks for an appropriate item name and a definition that fits the item. Approved Item names are the easiest to find.

NCAGE

NATO Commercial and Government Entity code is primarily entity identifier within NATO Codification System (NCS), which holds the name, address and contact details of the organization.

NCB

National Codification Bureau. It is the national organism responsible for managing all codification activities within a country member of the NCS.

NCS

NATO codification System, includes all the activities of codification.

NSN

NATO Stock Number, unique identification number for an item of supply.

NMCRL

NATO Master Catalogue of Reference of Logistics. This catalog lists all items of supply, all NSNs and associated data such as NCAGE, characteristics or packaging data.

NSPA

NATO Support and Procurement Agency, a NATO body and partner of AC135 responsible for running the daily operations regarding codification (NMCRL subscription, AC135 secretariat…Etc.