Original Date: 05/23/1994
Revision Date: 01/18/2007

The Technical Data System (TDS), established initially in 1972 at Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division Keyport, has evolved into one of the largest data collection systems in the Navy. The TDS integrated Keyport's experience with database design and management and has served as a model for a number of other useful databases developed by Keyport over the last 20 years.

The TDS acts as a central database to collect, process, and report information on the MK 48/ADCAP torpedo, MK 50 torpedo, and MK 30 target programs to most of the Navy-wide torpedo community. The system provides for the collection and reporting of reliability and maintainability data as well as configuration status accounting information. On-line statusing of torpedo configurations is available with the immediate status of any torpedo asset. The TDS also provides complete Integrated Logistics Support information such as serviceability status and location and status of replacement parts. Current and historical information, including maintenance history and scheduled maintenance, is available to the lowest replaceable unit level for every in-service torpedo. The availability of information from the TDS is timely with automated inputs networked within five minutes. Manual inputs are networked within 25 minutes, making the failure reporting real time.

Intermediate maintenance activities, depots, in-service engineering agents, technical design agents, manufacturers, and service schools all use the TDS in remote facilities that cover several time zones. The TDS operates on a VAX cluster with remote modem-access locations, and collects 200 to 300 transactions daily. The data is entered automatically using a computer terminal or manually through a TDS reporting form.

Reported events are entered automatically using the Shop Process Automation System (SPAS), an automated shop traveler accessed via computer terminal. The SPAS automatically opens a Torpedo Management Information System (TMIS) event to document an action during the normal process flow of the hardware through the facility. These actions include maintenance, deficiency, alteration, change/remove/status, information, overhaul, repair, and deviation/waiver. A manual system is still used predominantly by the Fleet Intermediate Maintenance Activities using the TMIS forms to document failure, maintenance and overhaul information, and Keyport maintains site representatives at these locations to input the data into the TDS.

Keyport has developed a feedback mechanism to ensure that the TDS data is accurate. A Daily Transaction Review is conducted to check all data entered from any user over the previous 24 hours. Any errors found are fed back to the user for corrective action. On-site representatives assist Fleet personnel in understanding and correcting the errors. This process is a critical component of the TDS and is key to maintaining system accuracy. User sites accomplish quality data entry and develop their own quality indicators.

For more information see the Point of Contact for this survey.