The National Stock Number; The Gear that Keeps the Supply Chain Running

A National Stock Number is simply the official label applied to an item of supply that is repeatedly procured, stocked, stored, issued, and used throughout the federal supply system. It is a unique item identifying series of numbers. When a NSN is assigned to an item of supply, data is assembled to describe the item. Some data elements include information such as an item name, manufacturers part number, unit price, and physical and performance characteristics. NSNs are an essential part of the militarys logistics supply chain used in managing, moving, storing, and disposing of material. NSNs are used to identify and manage nearly every imaginable item, from aircraft parts to light bulbs. The use of NSNs facilitates the standardization of item names, supply language, characteristics and management data and aids in reducing duplicate items in the federal inventory. It also helps to standardize the military requirements for testing and evaluation of potential items of supply, as well as identifying potential duplicate items.