budden@manta.nosc.mil (Rex A. Buddenberg) (09/26/89)
From: budden@manta.nosc.mil (Rex A. Buddenberg)
-------
CALS ==> Computer aided Acquisition and Logistics System.
Bureaucratic history. About 3 years ago, DoD, responding to some
commission prodding, set out to codify a set of standards to
automate the documentation process. Thus CALS was born at the
Department (rather than service) level. Since some companies
and parts of some of the services were already doing some
'paperless' things, this was an idea whose time had come.
Indeed, probably a bit overdue. The standardization prcess is
now advanced enough to see what is happening; and it's still
continuing.
Technical details. (from memory -- I read the list at home)
CALS adopted existing industry standards -- no reinvention --
for text, drawings and images (e.g. photos) which are
SGML, IGES, and CCITT Group 4 Fax respectively. SGML is a
markup language -- syntax oriented word processing for
tech manuals. IGES is the lingua franca for CAD. The Fax
standards are the same as your office fax uses. What else
goes into your documentation? The intent was to produce
standards for machine independent, paperless exchange of
technical documentation between the government and contractors
and between primes and subs.
These standards are codified in a series of Mil-Stds. Several
companies are offering packages for authoring now -- I saw third party
vendors offering stuff at both the Sun and Apple booths at the
last AFCEA show and there are certainly more (observation, not
advertisement).
The services are now setting up programs to implement the standards
over time. Cross the matrix at right angles to specific
program development. B-2 and SSN-21 are two big programs
that intend/are using CALS heavily.
Interestingly, this is a program, from DoD, no less, that seems to have
universal support from industry, Congress, the services, etc. Even
the detractors were only saying that they didn't think the guys
who were doing the standardization work could get away with it. Now that
it appears we have a bureaucratic, not just technical, winner, the
nay-sayers are entering their mea culpas.
I have some pointers to the standards at work but am still spooling
up on the technical details myself. Anybody needing further info/
pointers, wire me off-line.
Rex Buddenberg
Planning Officer, Electronic Systems Division
USCG Headquarters
Washington DC