MEDALS: the gateway to technical data - Inside logistics: exploring the heart of logistics

In October 1985, the Defense Logistics Information Service was directed to establish, maintain, and operate the Department of Defense (DoD) central index and locator system, the Military Engineering Data Asset Locator System (MEDALS). Implemented in October 1988, the MEDALS program serves as DoD's only central locator system for engineering drawings. DoD technical data repositories--which store, maintain, and distribute the engineering drawings--supply the MEDALS program with technical drawing indexing data and associated information. The MEDALS program is linked to the acquisition process of technical data and maintains indexing information throughout the document's life cycle. The MEDALS program, in turn, supplies this information to its customers, along with the drawing locations.

The MEDALS program is an interactive, online system that quickly and easily indicates where engineering drawings or documents reside and provides the user with the information and ability to order it. It is a tool for those who do not know where engineering documents might reside or where all revision levels are located. It also contains information on which repositories are holding specific engineering documents. The program currently provides its customers with the location of more than 36.4 million engineering data assets, located at 31 different data repositories. It indexes information from a family of systems and electronic product data-management systems (ePDMs), the most common being JEDMICS; others include the CENTRA 2000 system located at CECOM, Web-Integrated Data Environment located at NUWC Keyport Washington, and other ePDMs located throughout the Department of Defense. By being the central indexing authority, the MEDALS program can get the customers to the data repositories faster. This benefits the data repositories by saving time, money, and resources by having MEDALS do all the indexing, locating, and pointing the customer to the data repository. The repository does not have to field the queries. Most customers accustomed to using a specific repository will go only to that repository to get technical data. However, the MEDALS program provides information about other repositories, which may be holding additional associated drawings that may or may not be located at the customer's accustomed repository. These data may indicate ancillary information associated with the document indexed at the original repository.

The MEDALS program management officer has enhanced MEDALS by taking advantage of advances in the information technology arena. They have done this by simplifying and accelerating research capabilities, incorporating system enhancements, and incorporating customer requirements. The addition of enhanced search capabilities will enable the MEDALS user to navigate more efficiently by providing alternate search options using links and wildcard searches within the MEDALS program. Hyperlinks to the data repository sign-on and access screens allow the user to perform research functions and view technical data online if a repository supports Web access. The link then returns the user to the MEDALS program for further research. These enhanced features are an asset in today's work environment, moving the customer around to the desired objective faster, easier, and more efficiently.

MEDALS is a graphic-user interface, Web-based system accessible from any personal computer with a Web-secure socket-layer browser capability--Netscape Navigator or Internet Explorer, versions 3.0 or greater. Primarily, MEDALS supports inquiries based on technical drawing information; that is, drawing asset identifier (document and drawing number, Commercial and Government Entity [CAGE] code, document type, and revision level), document/ drawing number/CAGE, document/drawing number, and document title. Users also can search for drawings based on associated information; that is, part number, part number/ CAGE, and national stock number/national item identification number. In addition to the Web access, the MEDALS program offers the same types of query options in a batch input format, known as batch inquiry, for users with high-volume inquiry requirements. Batch inquires are submitted for processing online or on compact disk, read-only memory (CD-ROM) and floppy disks/diskettes.

MEDALS supports an online order feature called Electronic Drawing Order Requests (EDOR) that allows authorized users to initiate an order request for engineering drawings distributed on CD-ROM, aperture card, and paper. The program sends the EDOR via e-mail to the appropriate DoD technical data repository, which, in turn, distributes the technical drawing to the requester. For those users with EDOR authority, a history of orders placed within the last 90 days may be viewed. Apart from the query capabilities to locate engineering drawings, MEDALS provides its users with system information through its online bulletin board. The MEDALS Program Management Office posts news items pertaining to MEDALS where users may respond via an email hyperlink.

There is no charge to the customer to request access and use the MEDALS program. The MEDALS homepage can be viewed at https://www.dlis.dla.mil/medals/.

For more information on the MEDALS program, its current initiatives, and future enhancements, contact Warren M. Scott (program manager) at warren.scott@dla.mil (269) 961-5509 DSN 932-5509.

Mr Scott is program manager for the MEDALS program, Defense Logistics Information Service, Battle Creek, Michigan.

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