The role of standard in CALS [computer-aided acquisition and logistics support]

CALS is an integrated environment for all data attributed to contract(s) from the birth of a product until its death. This will mean in the defence environment that the information will need to be accessible for tens of years. The types of data included will be: bids, specification, contractual, technology, implementation, test, manufacturing and procurement, etc. The author discusses the role of standards in CALS. CALS provides: consistent definitions of how information is transferred between the customer and the supplier; an environment where the maximum consensus can be achieved; a platform where investment decisions for the business infra-structure can be taken in the knowledge that changes to the technology will be made in an orderly fashion; and CALS products can be verified for suitability for inclusion in a users business