NEWS
KUALA LUMPUR — Chinese automaker Zhejiang Geely Holding Group will buy a 49.9 percent stake in struggling carmaker Proton from Malaysian conglomerate DRB-Hicom. Geely will also acquire a majority share of 51 percent in U.K. sports-car maker Lotus Cars from Proton, Geely said in a statement Wednesday. Geely is the parent company of Hong Kong-based Geely Automobile […]
Read MoreThe best way to change perceptions about electric cars is to put novices in the driver’s seat—quite literally in this sense. The advocacy group Plug In America went to Capitol Hill recently, with a barrage of plug-in electric and pure battery electric vehicles, in an effort to educate lawmakers on their importance. Hundreds of senate […]
Read MoreThe UK needs to strike a trade deal with Turkey and South Africa as well as with the remainder of the European Union when the country leaves the bloc, Ford’s Europe chief, Jim Farley, said on Wednesday. “For Ford, it’s not only important for the UK’s agreement with the 27 countries but equally important are […]
Read MoreThe race to develop self-driving and mobility technologies is heating up and two of the hottest spots are San Francisco’s Silicon Valley and Detroit. Countless hopeful tech startups are converging on these cities from around the world to pitch their ideas. So much so, it is becoming difficult for automakers and Tier 1 suppliers to […]
Read MoreHalf a century ago, the General Motors assembly plant was the largest employer in Fremont, California, and the town was known for its dragstrip. Today, that plant makes Tesla electric cars and Fremont is a part of the San Francisco Bay Area’s Silicon Valley, creating advanced technology for the world. The city has now taken […]
Read MoreAutomotive supplier Delphi Automotive plans to spin off its powertrain unit in order to focus on developing technology for autonomous driving systems and electrically powered vehicles. Delphi has shed most of its lower-margin automotive supplier businesses in recent years and is seen as one of the companies best placed to grow as the industry moves […]
Read MoreMany U.S. car buyers still aren’t aware that the Chinese market surpassed North America in volume and importance fully a decade ago. Similarly, in advanced automotive technology, a case can be made that China is more important than the U.S. Nowhere is that more evident than in plug-in electric cars. Through a combination of carrots […]
Read MoreChina has long aimed to be the global leader in battery cells, solar power, and electric vehicles. But with more carrots and stronger sticks, electric-car sales started to rise in the country a couple of years ago. With close to a fifth of the world’s population starting to consider cars powered by electricity, manufacturers are […]
Read MoreTesla is taking a major gamble regarding the production of its upcoming Model 3 sedan in skipping prototype tooling and jumping straight to permanent production tooling, says a noted auto-manufacturing expert. “He’s pushing the envelope to see how much time and cost he can take out of the process,” Ron Harbour, a manufacturing consultant at […]
Read MoreApple, in another sign the tech giant is moving forward with plans to develop self-driving vehicle technology, has been granted a permit to test autonomous vehicles in California. More at AutoNews
Read MoreArticles
"What's Your Strategy For Meeting IMDS Requirements?"
Design2Part Magazine, September 29, 2016
"IPC Declarations: Sufficient for Automotive Electronics?"
Circuit Assembly magazine September 1, 2016
"Customer Demanding IMDS? You Have Options"
Ward's Automotive, August 13, 2014
"My Customer Wants Me to Submit to IMDS: What Do I do Now?"
Plastics Today, March 14, 2014
What is the IMDS?
The International Material Database System (IMDS) is a web-based tool to archive all the materials used to manufacture an automobile. The IMDS exists for Tier I–IV suppliers to automotive OEMs and their subsidiaries and suppliers. Submitting Material Data Sheets (MDSs) for each component to the IMDS is now a requirement along with supplying the product or part.
Purpose of the IMDS
The IMDS provides a common system for archiving and maintaining a database of materials used in vehicles. The system serves to ensure that OEMs and their suppliers are in compliance with international and national standards. In the future, the database will facilitate the recycling of scrapped vehicles.
The IMDS has quickly gained acceptance with the growing demand for recycling. All vehicle components will be fed back into the substance recovery cycle. In this way, the IMDS plays a significant role in protecting the environment.
Membership
More and more automotive OEMs have accepted the ELV directive and now require IMDS compliance. These OEMs now include: BMW, Chrysler, Daimler, Fiat, Ford, Fuji Heavy Industries, General Motors, Hyundai, Isuzu, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Porsche, Renault, Shanghai GM, Sangyong, Suzuki, Toyota, Volkswagen, and Volvo. If you are supplying parts or materials for new cars manufactured by any of these OEM members, most likely you are subject to IMDS reporting requirements.
Reporting Responsibility
IMDS compliance is a well-established condition of supply within the automotive sector. It’s also a mandatory part of the PPAP process. Tier I suppliers are now responsible for submitting the component data for their parts into the IMDS system. They often delegate this responsibility to their Tier II–IV suppliers. This means the cost for submitting Material Data Sheets has been pushed down to smaller and smaller companies.
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