The NATO Coding System is based on the one item - one number principle, as a coding number identifies one and only one supply item, this principle allows you to avoid duplication and take advantage of the benefits of the coding system such as: The NATO Codification System allows to classify, identify and assign a Unified Coding Number (NUC) to each item of supply. It also allows to obtain the maximum performance of the logistics system and to facilitate the management of materials. For these reasons the system has been unanimously accepted and adopted by all the signatory countries of the North Atlantic treaty.

In the international field its use is based on the principle that the country where the manufacturing company resides is responsible for the codification of materials, even if they are not employed by the AA.FF. This means that the purchasing country must ask at producer country to carry out the coding.