2. Origins and Governance

The NCS provides NATO countries with a uniform and common system for the identification, classification, and stock numbering of items of supply. It is based on the U.S. Federal Catalog System (FCS), which is operated by the Defense Logistics Information Service (DLIS) located in Battle Creek, Michigan, a field activity of the Defense Logistics (DLA). The foundation for this system within NATO rests in two NATO Standardization Agreements (STANAGs). STANAG 3150, "Uniform System of Supply Classification," adopts the U.S. system of classifying supplies as the standard within the Alliance. STANAG 3151, "Uniform System of Item Identification," adopts other basic standards for identification of supply items and sets the governing structure in place for the NCS.

The NCS is governed by Allied Committee 135 (AC/135) - "NATO Group of National Directors on Codification." This committee is composed of representatives from each NATO member nation and a participant from the NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency (NAMSA). The AC/135 functions under the authority of the Conference of National Armament Directors (CNAD) at NATO and normally meets twice per year. The committee is committed to increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of defense logistics interoperability between participating nations and providing the bridge to facilitate global logistics operations.