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The Nation’s Combat Logistics Support Agency

Established 1961

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

DLA

Solid Color Instrumental 

Threshold Submission

Jamie Hieber, Uraina Gray-Scully

November 17, 2022
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What Is New

• The PTC-Analytical engaged in a Pilot Program with MUST 

(Military Unique Sustainment Technology) with DLA HQ R&D

• The use of technology to speed testing is important to DLA and 

to our Vendors

• Shade evaluation will continue to be acceptance testing, and 

samples will continue to be sent to the PTC-A for visual 

evaluation

• Visual evaluation will be the only official acceptance 

determination

• All instrumental threshold, instrumental numbers must be 

vetted and approved by the using service

• This submission threshold will stand as instrumental guides
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How Will This Work?

• What is a threshold submittal level? We believe once this 

number is established, it should give the vendor a 95% 

confidence level that visual samples will be approved.

• Threshold submittal level corresponds to instrumental DECMC 

and all instrumental numbers making up this number.

• It will be different for each color, weave, and substrate

• Only for solid-colored items

• Measurements for the PTC-A will be completed on a DataColor instrument, so that the QTX files can be shared with vendors 

and the Services

• This process can also be completed on a Hunter Lab Spectro

• Vendors, following set protocols, can submit the QTX files 

along with the visual samples. Visual samples will always be 

submitted.

• QTX files will be reviewed at the PTC for correlation 
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Proof Of Concept

• This is the beginning; we would like to start small to 

shown proof of concept

• We are looking for suggestions on three to five different 

solid-colored standards to begin working this project.

• In order to have enough data for proof of concept, we 

need at least 50 data points across multiple lots.

• Looking to test naturals, synthetics and blends to cover 

multiple types of component items. 

• Optically brightened and pile components are not good 

candidates 

• We expect this phase to take 6 to 12 months
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Analyst Commentary 

• Current and past data for visual approvals determines how close a 

specific shade is being regulated for the given end-use. 

• Preferential shade direction of the limits for a given color is 

determined by historical visually approved samples, and direction 

from the services. 

• Shade variability limits are based on this preferential shade direction 

which should be maintained using the limits as shade guides on 

subsequent production samples.

• Inconsistency in shade for visual evaluation in production lots will 

cause high standard deviations, which will create false limits

• Samples near the boundaries of the limits are where the visual 

discernment of the professional colorist are most needed to make the 

required judgement calls for shade acceptability. 
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Methodology

• The goal was to develop instrumental limits that would 

filter out most samples that are likely to be rejected 

visually before they are submitted to PTC for review. 

• Data from each shade sample set was filtered to contain 

only visually approved samples.

• The confidence intervals were calculated using data from 

visually approved samples for each color.

• All samples were then compared to the calculated 

confidence intervals to determine which samples would 

be within the upper and lower limits for L*, a*, and b* by 

the numbers. 

• Correlation between the digital and visual assessment 

methods was compared.
Black 557 Roll 

#3916

59 Samples

While CIE was also used in this study, going forward Decmc will be used for 

confidence intervals.
Black 557 #3916

95% Limits

49 approved Samples 

Average of Samples as Digital Reference

95% CIE L* CIE a* CIE b* CIE DL* CIE Da* CIE Db* CIE DC CIE DH

DE 

CIElab

DEcmc

2:1

Upper 

Limit 16.57 0.40 -0.68 0.96 0.11 0.21 0.53 0.12 0.99

Lower 

Limit 15.09 0.18 -1.45 -0.53 -0.10 -0.56 -0.19 -0.20 0.05

Failures 

for each 

Limit 0 3 2 0 3 2 2 1 0

Sample Failures Based on 95% Limits 

CIE L*,a*,or b* 5

Failures Based on CMC 95% Upper 

Limit 0
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Correlation 49 Approved Samples 

95% Confidence Interval

Confidence Interval Approved Rejected Correlation %

Visually Approved 

Samples 

49 0 N/A

Using CIELab 95% 

Limits

49 5 90%

Using DEcmc 95% 

Limits

49 0 100%
Black 557 #3916

99% Limits

49 approved Samples 

Average of Samples as Digital Reference

99% CIE L* CIE a* CIE b* CIE DL* CIE Da* CIE Db* CIE DC CIE DH

DE 

CIElab

DEcmc

2:1

Upper 

Limit 16.81 0.44 -0.55 1.19 0.15 0.33 0.65 0.12 1.14 

Lower 

Limit 14.85 0.15 -1.57 -0.76 -0.14 -0.68 -0.31 -0.20 -0.10

Failures 

for each 

Limit 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0

Sample Failures Based on 99% Limits 

CIE L*,a*,or b* 1 

Failures Based on CMC 99% Upper 

Limit 0
Black 557 #3916

Correlation 49 Approved Samples 

99% Confidence Interval

Confidence Interval Approved Rejected Correlation %

Visually Approved 

Samples 

49 0 N/A

Using CIELab 99% 

Limits

49 1 98%

Using DEcmc 99% 

Limits

49 0 100%
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