Distributed Meta Data Repository Architecture (DMDRA)

In May 2003, EWSolutions began an engagement with the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Logistics Systems Management (OSD/LSM) to design and implement a meta data repository architecture to support the entire DOD Logistics Community at an enterprise level. This repository will leverage Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) technology and utilize a decentralized architecture to manage both technical and business meta data. An initial focus of this effort is to analyze system interfaces at strategic points in the DoD distribution chain to facilitate systems interoperability and improve efficiencies between the organizations that comprise the Defense Logistics Community. Another key component of this project is the identification, design and construction of meta data standards, procedures and processes for the Logistics Community.

The goal of the Logistics DMDRA project is to improve data quality, accessibility, and interoperability across the DoD Logistics Enterprise. The project supports this goal by developing a prototype architecture to support discovering and managing metadata in a cross-services / decentralized business environment, across a number of DoD Logistics Communities of Interest (COI). The Logistics DMDRA prototype demonstrates a scalable, COTS-based meta data repository architecture that can support discovering and managing meta data in a cross-services, decentralized business environment. The project currently includes core metadata shared by the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), the US Navy, and US Air Force.

EWSolutions initially evaluated and recommended the technologies required to develop and support the DMDRA (meta data repository, data modeling, process modeling, reporting, etc.). Since then, the team has delivered a working distributed / decentralized architectural framework with a global repository interactively linked to the local meta data repositories mentioned above. The team has also demonstrated an automated capability to support systems interfaces at the messaging layer and provide event notification on an operational basis across the DoD supply chain. This is designed to support systems interfaces with suppliers and NATO allies as well for the major initiatives such as the Joint Strike Fighter effort.