Material Identification

1-136 · A military alteration that changes or improves the operational or military characteristics of a ship. · A technical alteration that generally concerns personnel safety and equipment effectiveness. · An alteration-equivalent-to-repair (AER) could be one of three types. One involves substitution, without change in design, of approved, different material, available from standard stock. The second involves replacement of worn or damaged parts, assemblies, or equipment with those of later and more efficient design that have been approved by the responsible systems command. The last type is used for strengthening of parts that need repair or replacement to improve the reliability of the parts, provided no other change in design is involved. ALTERATION RESPONSIBILITIES.—Ship alterations (SHIPALTS) involve material under the technical control of the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA). Alterations which affect shipboard systems and equipment under the technical control of other systems commands; for example, air alterations (AIRALTS), ordnance alterations (ORDALTS), and special program alterations (SPALTS), are not SHIPALTS. However, they may require concurrent SHIPALTS if changes affect shipboard system interface. ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT FIELD CHANGES.—Field changes are identified by type and class. The type depends on the material included in the change kit or furnished by the installing activity. The class refers to the funding and the installation responsibility. Details concerning various types of and approval authority for alterations can be found in the Electronics Installation and Maintenance Book (EIMB), General, NAVSEA SE000-00-EIM-100. Material Identification At some time in your work, you will probably have to replace a defective part or component. If you are familiar with national stock numbers (NSNs), Navy item control numbers (NICNs), part numbers (PNs), and the Coordinated Shipboard Allowance List (COSAL), getting the replacement should be a simple chore. NATIONAL STOCK NUMBERS (NSNs).—An NSN is a 13-digit stock number used to identify an item of material in the Federal Catalog System of the Department of Defense. It consists of a four-digit federal supply classification (FSC) and a nine-digit national item identification number (NIIN). The first two digits of the FSC denote the group or major division of materials and the last two digits denote the class of subdivision of material within a group. Examples of groups are: GROUP TITLE 31 Bearings 48 Valves 59 Electrical and Electronic Systems Components 79 Cleaning supplies