NATO CALS Management Board

INTRODUCTION

     Continuous Acquisition and Life-Cycle Support (CALS) is a strategy intended to accelerate the transition from a present paper-intensive non-integrated product development, design, manufacturing and support processes to a highly automated, integrated mode of operation by developing standards for data storage and exchange, and automated systems to store, manage and distribute this information to many and varied users across an organisation.
     The general objectives of the CALS strategy are to reduce cost, improve the timeliness and improve the quality of products. Achieving these objectives will lead to increased operational readiness, improved interoperability in the field and industrial competitiveness. CALS envisions an integrated data environment created by applying the best technologies, processes and standards for the development, management, exchange and use of business and technical information among governmental and industrial enterprises. It is founded on the need for affordable, readily accessible, timely technical and business information.
     Since 1989 NATO has addressed CALS in the Conference of National Armament Directors (CNAD). In October 1993 the CNAD endorsed the creation of a NATO Organisation for CALS which will take the lead on all CALS issues within NATO.

PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF THIS DOCUMENT
The purpose of this document is to define a NATO policy for all CALS initiatives within NATO.