CHAPTER 6
MATERIAL CUSTODY, MATERIAL STOWAGE,
MATERIAL HANDLING EQUIPMENT, AND SAFETY
Each year, the Navy spends billions of dollars in the
logistical process to ensure fleet readiness at the highest
level. Storage and warehousing of material, which
include the physical and accountable aspects of the
Navy inventory, are critical elements of the logistical
process. These elements directly affect fleet readiness.
Each part of supply management is responsible for
ensuring that Navy material is properly cared for. There
are several functions related to the care of material.
These functions include accountability, physical
security, stock rotation, material handling, inventory,
and quality control. To understand the aspects of
material storage and warehousing, you should
understand each of these functions. This chapter
describes these functions in detail.
MATERIAL CUSTODY
Custody means immediate charge and control
exercised by a person or authority over a property or
record. As an AK, your job will include protecting and
maintaining material in the custody of your activity.
These materials may be in supply department spaces or
in other departments. The custodial responsibility for
Navy material depends on different situations. The
following text describes these situations.
MATERIAL IN SUPPLY
DEPARTMENT SPACES
The supply officer is responsible for the storage,
security, and inventory control of material stowed in
storerooms. This includes material stored in other areas
assigned to the supply department. The supply officer
may delegate this responsibility to the person in charge
of the storeroom or stowage area.
MATERIAL IN CUSTODY OF
OTHER DEPARTMENT HEADS
Sometimes, it is necessary to store bulk items under
the control of other department heads. Stowage of
supply stock items in other department spaces must have
a written authorization by the commanding officer. The
authorization will specify the supply officer’s
responsibilities. These responsibilities may include
procedural instructions, stock replenishment, physical
inventory, and record maintenance. The authorization
also should include the responsibilities of the other
department heads. These responsibilities may include
storage, security, inventory, and location of material.
When supply department stock is stored in other
spaces, the other department heads appoint (in writing)
custodians for the material. The supply officer is
responsible for providing detailed written instructions
and procedures to the assigned custodians.
The supply officer is responsible for maintaining
stock records of all material stored in other department
spaces. The supply officer will provide a listing of the
stock material to each departmental custodian. The
custodian only maintains the stock location records. The
custodian is responsible for the prompt submission of
completed transaction documents to the supply
department for processing.
MATERIAL IN SUBCUSTODY OF
OTHER DEPARTMENT HEADS
The location of other items or material may be in
the operating and maintenance spaces of other
departments. These items include maintenance
assistance modules (MAMs) issued on subcustody to
other departments. The MAMs are avionics system
parts used for isolating faults within an avionics system
or test set. Fault isolation is done by substituting the
parts with a MAM item. A MAM also enables
end-to-end testing within a test program set (TPS).
The MAMs are not carried on the supply officer’s
stock records as part of the spares inventory, but are
expended to the end user. MAMs are not included in the
operating site’s fixed allowance. However, MAMs are
listed in the aviation allowance list (AVCAL/
SHORCAL) and under the permanent custody of the
supply officer. In turn, the supply officer issues the
MAMs on subcustody to maintenance personnel. The
supply officer maintains the custody records of
repairable MAMs. The MAMs assets do not require a
report to the Aviation Supply Office (ASO). Refer to
FASOINST 4790.1 (series) for procedures on MAMs.
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