Original Date: 07/08/2002
Revision Date: 01/18/2007

In 1998, the Directorate for Missiles and Surface Launchers moved from a developmental client-server based to a commercial-off-the-shelf internet-based Integrated Data Management System. This system allows the entire STANDARD Missile community to access data (such as contract and technical information) at any time or location. The Integrated Data Management System resulted in greater productivity by allowing easy access to important data by those who require it.

In 1998, the Directorate for Missiles and Surface Launchers (PEO TSC-M/L) moved from a developmental client- server based to a commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) internet-based Integrated Data Management System (IDMS). This system allows the entire STANDARD Missile (SM) community (located in 11 states) to access data (such as contract and technical information) at any time or location. The previous system, implemented in 1995, was resource intensive on the computers of the day and required the use of a modem to access the data. The new Internet-based system gave PEO TSC-M/L the ability to access data from any location with Internet access.

Three broad areas make up the IDMS, including enterprise contracts repositories, project collaborations, and personal workspaces. The main repositories are the technical and community libraries. These areas allow users to store data in one central location rather than multiple areas, minimizing the chance of using outdated information. One type of data maintained in the IDMS system is Engineering Change Proposals (ECPs). ECPs are used to permanently change the design of a system. Persons with the responsibility of reviewing ECPs have a central location to view an ECP before passing it on to the Configuration Control Board (CCB) for a determination. Other uses of the IDMS are in the development of Requests for Proposals (RFPs), and the storage of technical documents within the program management office which allows for the electronic review and clearance of documents. Users also work on a variety of tasks using IDMS’s private project sections. Individuals only have access to areas that they have “rights” to, which the originating user determines. Project sections can be developed without software coding and do not require a webmaster to establish. By July 2002, the system held nearly 54,000 documents for PEO TSC- M/L.

The use of IDMS has resulted in greater productivity by allowing easy access to important data by those who need it. This lowered the amount of travel required by program staff reducing travel costs and staff time lost in transit. This Internet-based system also allows users to adapt to new situations faster than with the older or non-existent data management system. PEO TSC-M/L has also discovered that using IDMS has reduced the amount of paper generated by 55 boxes per quarter for contractor data disseminated throughout the entire program office. In addition, PEO TSC-M/L reduced the time to develop an RFP from an average of nine to four months using the Internet-based system.

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