Here you can find questions and answers regarding IMDS content and usage in several categories. To see the content of each category and to read the answer to a question, please click on the category/question to expand the content.
You find OEM-specific IMDS documentation for suppliers in the Help category "OEM Specific Information" (no longer under FAQ).
Why am I getting ERROR messages: only valid Applications can
be used for Basic Substances?
Over the years, due to changes in the Annex II, some application codes have had to be retired. Even though there is the Recommendation on Change Management, you may have to resubmit.
It is a warning (and you can send the MDS anyway), when the invalid application is included in a referenced component (from your supplier). In this case, the applications are read-only and you can therefore, not change them (e.g. the MDS was sent to you). However, although the IMDS system allows you to send with a warning your customer may choose to not follow Recommendation 022 and require you to resubmit
It is an error (and the application must be changed before sending), when the invalid application ...
is assigned to a component MDS created by your company or
was added for an OEM
Why am I getting the 10% warning of undeclared substances?
When calculating the maximum amount of jokers used in a material, IMDS uses "worst case" calculation. The value given as "rest" on the joker substances is not the same as the value used in the warning calculation.
The 10% warning requires a bit of understanding on how the calculations work. For example, if you have a material comprised of substance a, substance b, substance c, and a joker:
Substance a - range from 25 to 29 - weighted average 27
Substance b - range from 36 to 40 - weighted average 38
Substance c - range from 26 to 30 - weighted average 28
Joker - REST - 7%
But
Even though substance a has a weighted average of 27, it COULD have as little as 25% of substance a
Even though substance b has a weighted average of 38, it COULD have as little as 36% of substance b
Even though substance c has a weighted average of 28, it COULD have as little as 26% of substance c
So really, for sure, all we know that the total of substance a, b, and c are 87% so the joker could be 13% which is > 10% and sets off the warning.
Additionally, should you use a range on a joker such as Joker - from 9% to 11%, the maximum value of the range is used in the calculation.
To avoid this warning, do not use "rest" on a joker substance.
Why am I getting more errors and warnings on previously
released (legacy) data?
New checks are implemented in almost every new IMDS release. Until 2008, previously release data sheets were exempt from the new checks and the customer could not easily see the warnings that the supplier was ignoring or for rules that had been implemented after the initial data sheet release. As a response to supplier requests, Release 6.0 brought a complete check of the tree both on the supplier side when releasing/publishing/sending/proposing and on the customer side when accepting. This has resulted in making visible all the warnings on the tree structure and making it easier for a customer to enforce his requirements - thus improving data quality and consistency.
The range warnings and 10% warning was implemented in Release 4.0 (2006).
Recommendation 001 range requirements were published in 2003.
