You start a new Inspection Session in iFig Reader by clicking this button
This is where the inspector manually cross-references the equipment's end-item model number to the 3 digit Usable On Code (UOC). Don't forget to memorize or write this code down - it WILL be needed for subsequent steps.
You select the End-Item NIIN or model number by typing or clicking an entry from the drop-down box
You initiate a search by clicking the Find command from the menu bar
You initiate a search in iFig Reader by clicking on the Search Panel
After entering the search phrase and clicking on the search button, iFig Reader presents you with all entries that meet your search criteria. Selected parts are highlighted with the "selected" color. This color can be changed to suit your personal taste.
After entering the search phrase and clicking on the find button, the current process stops and displays the first occurence that meets your search criteria
After flipping to the page containing the RPSTL data, you must now manually cross-reference the UOC, (obtained in a previous step), to the applicable needed part
After clicking on the image of the needed part, the Requisition Manager form opens. This form displays all instances of the figure and item number, any parts already on order for this figure and item number, and any next higher assembly parts associated with the selected part.
This message is displayed if the requisitioned part has been replaced with a new NIIN
Parts that are on order are highlighted with the on order color. This color can be changed to suit your individual taste.
To print the requisition list, you simply click the print button located on both the toolbar and the status panel.
A sample requisition list is ready to print. You can also export this list in PDF, XLS, or RTF format.
Requisitions can also be synchronized with a host system provided a bridge applet has been created for that host.

iFig Reader Comparison to Today's Process

iFig Reader makes identifying and ordering your parts easier and far less error prone compared to the existing manual process.

How does it do this?

First, think about how many times an inspector must memorize codes, flip between pages of the electronic TM, cross-reference a needed part with FedLog, and write parts requirements down. Then think about the potential for supply clerk key-punch errors or mis-reading a manually filled out 5988-E.

Compare that time-intensive manual process with iFig Reader's point-and-click interface, Usable On Code and FedLog Integration features.

There simply is no comparison.

To further illustrate how iFig Reader is superior to the current process, we present to you a step by step scenario that an inspector would typically follow.

For this example, lets assume that we are an inspector that needs to order a radiator shroud to repair an M1097A2. On the left side of the below table are the steps required under the current process, and on the right is how the inspector would use iFig Reader to find and requisition the same part.

NOTE: You can click on any of the below images to see a full size version.

Current Process iFig Reader
1. Identify the Usable On Code (UOC)
1a. Open the electronic TM and flip through the pages until you find the Usable On Code to Model Number cross-reference page. (page 33) 1a. Start the iFig Reader program and click on the Begin New Session button.

Creating a new Inspection Session in iFig Reader

1b. Find the UOC that corresponds to your model number. Annotate or memorize this 3 digit code for the next steps.

Manually Cross-reference Model to Usable On Code

 

 1b. Select the End-Item NIIN or Model Number from the drop down list. The UOC is automatically selected and stored in the program's memory for the next steps.

Selecting the End-Item NIIN/Model in iFig Reader

 
2. Find the part

2a. Select Find from the menu bar

Selecting Find from the Menu Bar

2a. Select the Search Panel

Selecting the Search Panel in iFig Reader

2b. Enter the search phrase "shroud" and click the "find" button. The program will search for the phrase and stop searching when it finds the first occurrence.

 2b. Enter the search phrase "shroud" and click the "search" button. The program will search for the phrase and load every occurrence in the search results panel. Clicking on any part in the RPSTL tree view will highlight and center that part in the image display panel.

Viewing the search results in iFig Reader

2c. Visually determine the part that is needed. Memorize the item number for the next step. For this example, we need item 5. (Page 118)

Viewing the search results with the current process

2c. Visually determine the part that is needed. For this example, we need item 5.

2d. Go to the Repair Parts and Special Tools List (RPSTL) page. Item 5 has 2 entries. Determine which of the 2 entries to order based on the UOC determined in step 1a (BVY). (Page 119)

Manually determining the needed part with the current process

 
3. Annotate the part that is needed.
3a. Write the National Stock Number, Quantity, etc. on the DD form 5988-E. 3a. Click on the picture of the needed part. The requisition manager will open. Click the Add button for the desired part. As Item 5 contains 2 entries and one of them is NOT compatible, you would select the compatible part.

the part is compatible with your end-item

the part is NOT compatible with your end-item

Initiating a parts requisition in iFig Reader

 
  3c. The iFig Reader program's catalog determines that the part has a replacement NIIN and prompts you with this information and asks you if you wish to order the replacement NIIN instead.

  Replacement NIIN prompt in iFig Reader

You select YES.

The Edit Requisition form will open.

 

 3b. Optionally select a failure code and/or modify the default quantity and then click the OK button.

The Edit Requisition and Requisition Manager forms will close. You can visually see that the part is "on order" as it is now rendered in iFig Reader with the on order color.

  A part is on order in iFig Reader

At this point, steps 2 and 3 are repeated for all parts needed to repair the item
4. FedLog Research

4a. Either the inspector or the supply clerk will perform this step. The goal is to ensure that the part that is needed is still a valid part (i.e. has a valid acquisition advice code, has not been replaced by another NSN, etc). After entering the NIIN in FedLog, it is determined that this particular part has been cancelled and replaced with a new NIIN.

 

The new NIIN is annotated on the DD Form 5988-E.

 This step is not needed as iFig Reader has already cross-referenced the part to the FedLog updated catalog.
5. Order the part through the maintenance automated system.
5a. The inspector passes the manually completed DD Form 5988-E to the supply clerk. The supply clerk types each parts request into the maintenance system. NOTE: This step can take 1 of 2 possible paths. If iFig Reader is NOT configured to synchronize with a host maintenance/supply system, the requisitions can be printed or exported in MILSTRIP or XML format.

The printed option is displayed below in "5a Printed".

If iFig Reader IS configured to synchronize with a host maintenance/supply system, follow the option labeled "5a Synchronized"
  5a Printed. The inspector presses the print button on the iFig Reader toolbar.

  Printing requisition requests in iFig Reader

All parts requests are printed out.

  Viewing the requisition requests in iFig Reader

The inspector passes this requisition list to the supply clerk. The supply clerk types each parts request into the maintenance system. Though the typing of the requisition into the maintenance parts ordering system is still a manual process, the requisition list is computer generated and much easier to read than a manually filled out 5988-E.

 

 5a Synchronized. The inspector connects the iFig Reader laptop or tablet PC to the host systems' network. From the iFig Reader panel, click on the "Synchronize with Host" button and then click on the "Synchronize Now" button.

Using the synchronize with host feature in iFig Reader

iFig Reader will automatically synchronize the requisition requests with the host system. Using this method requires no additional typing on the supply clerk's part. There is virtually no way a transcription error could occur.