The International Material Data System (IMDS) is a global data repository that contains information on materials used by the automotive industry. Several leading auto manufacturers use the IMDS to maintain data for various reporting requirements.
In the IMDS, all materials present in finished automobile manufacturing are collected, maintained, analysed and archived. IMDS facilitates meeting the obligations placed on automobile manufacturers, and thus on their suppliers, by national and international standards, laws and regulations.
Introduction
The IMDS was originally a collaboration of Audi, BMW, Daimler, EDS (now part of
DXC Technology
DXC Technology is an American multinational information technology (IT) services and consulting company headquartered in Ashburn, Virginia.
History
DXC Technology was founded on April 3, 2017 when the Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company (HPE ...
, the system administrator), Ford, Opel, Porsche, VW and Volvo. Since inception the list of participating vehicle manufacturers and suppliers has grown greatly.
Usage
Because it is a computer-based system, IMDS highlights hazardous and controlled substances by comparing entered data with regulatory-originated lists of prohibited substances (GADSL,
REACH,
ELV, etc...). Hence OEMs can trace hazardous substances back to the individual part and work with suppliers to reduce, control, or eliminate the hazard.
All substances must be declared in the material data sheet (MDS) of the IMDS to a resolution of 1 gram or better – not just declarable and prohibited substances (e.g.
Cr VI /
Hg /
Pb /
Cd). Substances and materials of products must be known in detail so that it may be delivered by the OEMs to dismantler companies in order to achieve the goals of the
ELV Directive.
The basic workflow model of the system is for each supplier to submit data about the parts they sell to their direct customer. When each link in the supply chain submits data per this method, it mimics actual supply chain part flow, preserving customer-to-supplier relations. Data entry in IMDS is frequently a contractual requirement of
PPAP which is one part of
standard automotive quality systems.
Access and costs
The IMDS is easily accessed through the internet. The basic web browser version of the system is supported by the OEM sponsor's group and provided free of charge to suppliers in the automotive supply chain.
There are several vendors that provide systems allowing compatible IMDS interaction with
product lifecycle management
In industry, Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) is the process of managing the entire lifecycle of a product from its inception through the engineering, design and manufacture, as well as the service and disposal of manufactured products. PL ...
, download and upload, data format translation, and other reporting systems.
Changes in 2013 and 2014
* 2013 – IMDS NT for Design Changes
* 2014 – IMDS 2020 for New Functions
References
External links
*{{official website, http://www.mdsystem.com
Training Homepage for new IMDS NT DesignGADSL Homepage
*End of Life Vehicles Directive
The End of Life Vehicles Directive is a Directive of the European Union addressing the end of life for automotive products. Every year, motor vehicles which have reached the end of their useful lives create between 8 and 9 million tonnes of ...
2000/53/EC
* REACh
IMDS at AIAGIMDS Suppliers Group at CLEPA, European Automotive Suppliers' Association
* US American Automotive Suppliers' Associations
About IMDS (Brazil)
Automotive standards
Material handling
Automotive industry
European Union directives
Vehicle recycling