INDUSTRY INTERVIEW: IHS Inc.
Q: Please provide some background on IHS and the company’s work in the defense logistics arena.
A: IHS is a leading global source of product and service solutions with a customer base that ranges from governments worldwide and multinational companies to smaller companies and technical professionals. With a presence in more than 180 countries, IHS has been in business since 1959 and employs approximately 3,800 people in 20 countries. Recent successful acquisitions of content, data and service businesses in the information industry have created a unique synergy that augments and expands upon our existing businesses, which include products and services provided to DoD with strategic sourcing solutions and data content for critical DoD supply chain logistics. These solutions cross environmental, security, energy and product life cycle risks and concerns.
Q: Please talk about some of the current IHS projects in support of key DoD customers.
A: As a major contractor of Robins Air Force Base in Warner Robins, Ga., IHS is currently participating in a project to streamline the Robins Air Force Base data transformation process. Efforts are under way to capture and transform data from print to electronic format in preparation for implementation of an Air Force consolidated/global electronic parts database for all components and materials. Additional efforts are under way that include providing the Army with an IHS Hazardous Materials Management System solution and working with multiple DoD agencies—U.S. as well as European— and DoD customers to either collect their technical and/or compliance-related data or provide data management.
Q: Please discuss current IHS efforts to address DoD’s logistics transformation and how contracting, such as PBL, is changing the company’s view in meeting new requirements.
A: Our current primary focus is the conversion, integrity and transformation of data and the sustainment in advance of major enterprisewide solutions. IHS is cognizant of the enterprise tools and possible limitations due to legacy data formats and legacy system processes. PBL is driving some of the ownership of the data toward the OEM, which means the data is coming from the OEM into a DoD provisioning format and then onto the enterprise system of record. This data flow process is complex and must be managed in finite detail. IHS is in a unique position where we have expertise of the data, the applications and the attributes required to make data agnostic to disparate systems.
Q: What new programs is IHS working on in direct partnership with DoD agencies and the military services?
A: IHS is working with specific DoD agencies on product data conversion, data integrity [cleansing and optimization] and sustainment that will enable autonomous systems to process data calls without constant manual data reconciliation. The Robins AFB DMSMS Tool Program rollout is the most current project we have going on. We are also working on a NAVAIR-wide subscription and product expansion contract, which will greatly enhance the ability of NAVAIR to provide their personnel with logistical supply chain needs and support.
Q: What are the main challenges facing IHS in meeting the needs of contract support for the 21st century warfighter?
A: Due to certain security requirements that the Air Force, Navy and DoD are instituting, it is causing increased costs for companies like IHS to do business with the government. In addition, much of the data issues that DoD and federal government face are due to processes that were implemented just to make things work, which is much the same for any company in the modern world. A lack of resources has forced these entities to implement workarounds that were put in place and have stayed in place for many years. These processes have become institutionalized and are indigenous to a specific area within a depot, and as a result, it is very difficult to implement an enterprisewide system that can process these unique transactions. But we believe the unique product and solution offerings of IHS, the persistence in communicating those offerings, and the willingness to understand and work with these agencies on their issues and requirements can ultimately benefit all parties involved. ♦
Back to Top