As stated in the introduction to this handbook, CALS is a Defence strategy that will enable more effective creation, exchange, and utilization of digital data. The underlying purpose of this strategy is to move from a paper-intensive environment to a digital environment in an effort to reduce weapon-system acquisition time, support costs, and improve both data and product quality.

Given the current state of the Defence budget and the likelihood that Defence money will continue to shrink in the foreseeable future, it is even more imperative that project managers maximize the use of CALS as a springboard to reduced acquisition and downstream Operational costs. The efficient utilization of the LSA process during a system's early life cycle (design and early development) is the cornerstone to reducing the overall system Operational costs. But in addition to simply applying the LSA process during a design phase, the project managers must implement an effective and logical approach to the overall acquisition and management of all data including data associated with LSA, ILS, and engineering and program management through the entire life cycle of a system.

It is no longer acceptable to procure and reproduce data when, in fact, the only difference is the format. Significant cost savings can be realized by both buying and utilizing previously procured data in a logical and controlled manner. The implementation of a CALS strategy will allow the project manager to provide the foundation to electronically share the data that is developed from his/her program with multiple users, multiple times.

Future CALS-related modernization efforts, including those presently underway, will help improve and consolidate both data acquisition and data management. But, until these efforts are completed, it is the individual project manager's responsibility to apply CALS to the maximum benefit of both his/her program and the NATO/NATO nations in general.