A Business Case and Strategy for Defense Logistics Electronic Data Interchange

Abstract : This report analyzes the need to improve DoD logistics data exchanges. For many years, DoD has used the Defense logistics Standard Systems (DLSS), a series of procedures and electronic transmission formats, to exchange logistics data. When established in 1962, the 80 character fixed length records moved DoD to the leading edge of automated logistics operations. The military services and defense agencies also developed extensive logistics systems; and DLSS procedures, codes, and formats were embedded directly into the computer codes of these systems. However, the DLSS are now old and obsolete. The fixed length formats are saturated and do not permit transmitting additional data. To compensate for these limitations, diverse formats have been developed to meet specific requirements. Further, the pervasiveness of the DLSS inhibits the modernization of legacy systems. DoD needs to replace the DLSS with another means of exchanging logistics data. The American National Standards Institute's Accredited Standards Committee X12 standards for electronic data interchange (EDI) are excellent tools. Implementing X12 EDI will permit DoD to support expanding data requirements, simplify exchanges with commercial trading partners as DoD expands its logistics outsourcing, and separate data exchange formats from the internal programming of logistics computer systems.