International Material Data Systems (IMDS) and ELV-1 - Looking for Info

[Rachel]

Hi there,

So I was recently given the task of looking into IMDS - what it is, what the requirements are, how it impacts the business, etc. I've run a quick search both here and in Google. Here, I didn't find anything. (Maybe I'm not looking in the right place!) On the Web, I found that IMDS is related to this ELV-1 thing...and ELV-1 is basically a life-cycle assessment of sorts...and...well...that's all I know.

Anyone care to shed some light? Any valuable weblinks (i.e., love) that Google isn't sharing with me?

Cheers,
-R.

[Rachel]

Man, it's amazing how Google searches can vary from one attempt to another - or depending on the word order and so on...

I just found a kick site on IMDS.

But, still, if anyone cares to shed any more light...

[Hermann]

try
http://www.mdsystem.com/html/en/home_en.htm
Basically, you enter the chemical content of the individual part into the database with an ID number. When you PPAP, include the ID number on the PSW. The car manufacturer can add up all the supplier's data and has a list of the chemical content of the vehicle. There is a bit more to it than that but for starters..........

[Rachel]

Thanks, Hermann...that was the site I found, and it was really good.

Does anyone have an example of an IMDS report? What exactly are we expected to fill in here?

[Howard Atkins]

http://www.gmw3059.com

This is the GM site with info and guidance to the IMDS, yuou do not have to be a GM supplier but need to register.

I had some experience about 3 years ago and it was very complicated and the guidance was limited. I have heared that it is still the same.

Good luck.

[D.Scott]

I handle the IMDS for our company and I agree with Howard. There is very little guidance and it can get very complicated.

Dave

[Sam]

I use the IMDS about two times a month. As with any software there are always changes. I have found the IMDS help desk to be extremely helpful, to the point that they will walk you through a creation process. If you click on "help" you find a complete set of instructions.
Also each OEM has their own set of guidelines, just like TS2. IMO the confusion factor is a result of OEM methods.

[D.Scott]

Agreed Sam.

I am continually revising the wording to suit one of the OEMs then hearing something else from another.

Dave