CALS

CALS is an acronym for a Department of Defense (DoD) method of creating and maintaining an efficient use of digital information in relation to weapon systems and equipment. CALS stands for Continuous Acquisition and Life-Cycle Support (formerly Computer-aided Acquisition and Logistics Support). Although CALS was designed by and is currently being refined by the DoD, other organizations have begun to implement this intelligent method of tracking data.

URLs:

RAC Journal, 4th Quarter 1994

More information about the DoD's move toward more efficient methods of product development.

Overview - Continuous Acquisition and Life Cycle Support (CALS)

More details about the development and implementation of CALS

W3E References:

COTS

Detail:

History of CALS

CALS was developed by the Department of Defense in the 1980s, after it became apparent that the development and production of weapons should be organized in a more efficient manner. The DoD recognized that enormous amounts of time and money were being wasted by the way in which documentation was being produced and kept in the process of creating weapons. CALS. was designed to streamline the process by vastly lowering the amount of paper documentation required, and to improve communication among the constituents involved in creating weapons. The Communication and Information Systems Department of the David Taylor Model Basin have authored numerous CALS related documents.

Objectives of CALS

CALS was designed specifically for the purposes of:

1. Reducing paper
2. Reducing product cycle time from inception to application
3. Sharing digital information to permit processes and activities to be performed concurrently.
4. Reducing Error
5. Capturing information once to be used many times (instead of having to investigate the same thing over and over)
6. Connecting everyone involved in the process
7. Improving flexibility
8. Using Standards and Commercial Off the Shelf Technology (COTS)

CALS and the private sector

The advantages of implementing CALS type strategies, which integrate the needs of many diverse data access functions via a simple shared electronic technical data model, are being used or considered by a number of non- military sectors. These include: the Aerospace, Automotive, Healthcare, and Apparel industries. By using CALS or something similar, industries can benefit in increased revenue, preserving existing revenue, and reducing operating costs.