The German full-service company imds professional has trained Colombian mobility industry staff on how to use the International MaterialDataSystem (IMDS).

Weilrod, 03.05.2018 – In February 2018, imds professional, a full-service provider for the International MaterialDataSystem (IMDS) in the automotive industry, has carried out a series of trainings in Colombia. The participants are employees of local suppliers as well as car manufacturers (OEM) such as Yamaha. The trainings were held on behalf of UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organization) as part of the so-called PRO-MOTION project. This project is a joint collaboration between the United Nations, KOICA (the Korea International Cooperation Agency) and the Colombian Government through its Productive Transformation Program. The aim of this program is to boost competitiveness and quality of the Colombian mobility industry, to support local supplier companies and to integrate them into global supply chains. An important part of this integration is to enable the local Colombian companies to enter their data in IMDS and thus provide their customers with the information they need to ensure material compliance. Customers include major automotive OEMs based in Colombia such as Renault or General Motors.

Over the years the web-based IMDS, a databank for collection of material data developed by DXC Technology (formerly HPE), has become the international automotive industry standard to meet the requirements of the ELV directive and to transfer material data in a save and fast manner. IMDS facilitates the recycling and reuse of end-of-life-vehicles and their components since data for all parts are collected in the system. This makes it possible to trace what exactly the parts are made of and, for example, whether provisions related to banned substances are implemented.

Nowadays almost all major car manufacturers use IMDS for reporting and require their customers to transfer their material data by means of this system. „If the Colombian manufacturers of vehicle parts want to be competitive, they have to be registered in IMDS. Since there a variety of legal regulations as well as OEM and IMDS recommendations now, users need training in order to meet the complex requirements and to use the system correctly and efficiently“, says Markus Engel, IMDS Project Lead at imds professional. „With our many years of experience in working and training with IMDS, and our profound knowledge of the South American market – since 2015 we have now been offering our services and trainings in Brazil – we were able to win the tender of the UNIDO“, Markus Engel comments with evident pleasure. „As the participants had never worked with IMDS before, I had to start from zero. I familiarized them with the legal regulations and the history of the system and I guided them through their first steps in the system. Through extensive practice, the participants are now ready to use IMDS and will be able to meet the needs of their customers“, explains Humberto Fracassi, the Spanish-speaking trainer. The trainings took place in Bogotá, Medellín and Pereira with a total of 25 participants.

The integration of the Colombian suppliers into global supply chains shall be met by implementing five core strategies: appropriate industrial development policies, national quality infrastructure based on international best practice, high quality competitive products, entry into new global supply chains and increase the added value of Colombian products through research and development. Various measures were identified and developed for this purpose. PRO-MOTION provides technical assistance to the industry to achieve compliance with the demands of global customers and improving overall competitiveness. The project also assists the identification of new opportunities in global markets by taking advantage of existing industrial capacity.

According to the PRO-MOTION initiative, four car manufacturers and six motorcycle manufacturers are currently active in Colombia. In 2016, it sold car parts and vehicles worth about $ 3,390 million.

Further information about imds professional can be found online: http://www.imds-professional.com/en

About imds professional:

imds professional is a full-service company in the area of the International Material Data System (IMDS), the China Automotive Material Data System (CAMDS) and the data management solution Compliance Data Exchange (CDX). imds professional offers comprehensive service and consulting services worldwide for IMDS, CAMDS, CDX, REACH, Conflict Minerals and RoHS as well as a wide range of trainings on these topics. The trainings are offered as public seminars as well as in-house seminars. imds professional is authorized as partner for IMDS and CDX training by DXC Technology. Its customers include international car manufacturers and their suppliers.