Another development in telematics, strongly
related to EDI, is Product Data Interchange
(PDI) which focuses primarily on structuring and
exchanging product data in digital format. The
Continuous Acquisition and Life-cycle Support
(CALS) strategy, which originates from Defence,
is based on PDI but also contains EDI elements
concerning the structuring of logistic data (Smith,
1990). CALS is about integration and automation
of processes that had previously been performed
separately and information that had previously
been stored as separate items, replacing paper
flows with digital flows and forming automated
links with suppliers and customers. The evidence
at hand shows that these actions will lead to
shorter lead times, better quality, and lower costs
for products and services.