ASC X12 General Session Minutes
ASC X12X/98-185
October 5, 1998
Hyatt Regency Miami
Miami, Florida
Ms. Kendra Martin (API), ASC X12 Chair called the October 1998 General Session to order at
4:05 p.m. and welcomed everyone to Miami. She mentioned that she and Mr. Charles Quirt
(Datex-Ohmeda), ASC X12 Vice Chair, would discuss X12’s tactical refinement of the X12
standard.
Ms. Martin highlighted X12’s major tactical refinement accomplishments:
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Quality & Process Issues
Opportunities being explored by X12J Technical Assessment Subcommittee (TAS),
Procedures Review Board (PRB) and the Policies and Procedures Task Group (P&P) for
the Six-month Publication Proposal
EDIFACT Alignment
International Vision has been achieved through Alignment Task Group (ATG)
leadership. UN/EDIFACT alignment activity has been forwarded to the Subcommittees
and Task Groups to manage day-to-day operations.
Strategic Vision
Strategic Implementation Task Group (SITG) is defining the structure of the next
generation of EDI
Ms. Martin gave examples of EDI implementation “real world” success stories. The examples
were drawn from a variety of sources including a corporate EDI partnership, banking, state
government, manufacturing, insurance, transportation, shipping and education activities.
EDI Corporate Partnership
Proctor & Gamble and H.E. Butt conducted an EDI for Grocery Logistics project that resulted in
the following one-year improvements:
 Reduction of over 3,000 labor hours 1,700 in order processing hours and 1,300 paper
administration and data rekeying hours
 80% increase in speed of new items delivered to stores, price changes made and
promotions implemented
 75 % decrease in invoice deductions
 Grocery scanning accuracy of 99.8%
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Banking
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Compass Bank was approached by a large corporate customer, a trucking company, to
provide an automated 820 Remittance Advice
Previously not EDI-capable, the bank easily implemented the transaction, helping the
trucking company, and keeping a large banking customer satisfied
State Government
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Florida Dept. of Banking & Finance implemented Vendor EDI and Purchasing Card
programs
4 million invoices per year @ $108 per invoice for manpower & paper
Once fully implemented, the new system will cut costs by at least 40%
Manufacturing
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Arrow Products, a small manufacturing company, began using EDI in 1989
As a result, the company has created 3 new divisions:
Direct catalog/web site sales shipments
EDI Service Bureau
Internet Division hosting web sites
The company continues to manufacture its initial product, sewing machine cabinets
Insurance
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New Large-Scale Implementations in Property & Casualty, including:
Auto Liability Insurance Reporting
Rental Management
Collision Estimating
Transportation (Using X12 and UN/EDIFACT)
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Joint Petroleum/Airline/DoD Project
Exchange of electronic formats for aviation fuel sales & administration
Bulk Marine Inspection
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UN/EDIFACT Bulk Marine Inspection Summary Report Message (BMISRM)
Summarizes the flow of bulk marine cargo between seller and buyer
Used for loss control
Also relays time log information, certificate of analysis, and voyage analysis information
as related to loss control and payment approval
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Education Administration
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South Carolina
Colleges have until 1/99 to implement EDI or risk losing state funds
Oklahoma
Regents’ Institutions have a $250k grant to implement transcript exchanges
Iowa
All 3 public universities are using EDI with state high schools
Georgia
The 34 University System members are implementing student transcript exchanges
Ms. Martin gave specific examples of how some new X12 transaction sets are being
implemented:
TS 620 Excavation Communication
 Jointly developed by the utility, oil & gas pipeline, and telecommunications industries
 Used to communicate for the purposes of attaining clearance for excavation or to have the
potentially impacted parties locate any affected assets and supervise the excavation
 Currently, information is processed in a proprietary manner by “Call Before You Dig” or
“One Call” agencies
TS 625 Well Life-Cycle Information
 Covers the Life-Cycle of an Oil or Gas Well from Exploration to Abandonment
 Initial Implementations between oil producers and government agencies include:
Traditional EDI translation, using the Internet as communications vehicle
Web-browser interface using XML to translate to TS 625
Ms. Martin described the speed of growth in the use of EDI and electronic commerce
technology:
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It took commercial radio 38 years to reach an audience of 50 million in North America. It
took commercial television 13 years to do the same. It took the World Wide Web five
years.
It took Wal-Mart 12 years and 78 stores to hit $168 million in annual sales. Amazon.com
hit $148 million in sales in it’s third year; sales in year four are expected to reach $460
million.Amazon.com does not own any stores.
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Ms. Martin concluded her remarks by stating that the greatest challenge facing X12 when she
and Mr. Quirt took office was to maintain X12’s relevance in the fast changing electronic
commerce environment. She credited X12’s renewed relevance due to the Committee’s
diligence in refining the strategic plan, clarifying participation in the domestic and international
environment and re-focusing attention to quality products and services. Ms. Martin yielded the
floor to Mr. Charles Quirt.
Mr. Quirt welcomed everyone to Miami. He reported on X12’s leadership role in the
development of EDI standards in healthcare, defense procurement, supply chain management,
and education, among others.
Mr. Quirt stated that X12’s leadership role can be attributed to the positive changes made by Ms.
Kim Lambert (ATA) and the Delegate Liaison Task Group (DLTG), Mr. Robert Schroeder (J.C.
Penney) and the Alignment Task Group (ATG), Mr. Harry Featherstone (LMI) and the Strategic
Implementation Task Group (SITG) and X12’s active involvement in the international standards
community. He reported that X12 must continue to address change and the impact it has on the
future of EDI standards development. Mr. Quirt stated that he has seen X12 move from an
organization that questioned process and development changes to one that encourages the
implementation of new ideas for the development of the next generation of EDI.
Mr. Quirt reported that a partnership must be developed between EDI and evolving technology.
He stated that the SITG has used technology in the development of the next generation of EDI.
Mr. Quirt stated that X12’s next step is to refine the development and implementation of the
standard.
Mr. Quirt stated that he and Ms. Martin are focusing on succession planning for the future of
X12. He thanked the members for their support and encouraged them to continue the
integration of new technologies for the future development of the X12 standard.
Mr. Quirt introduced Ms. Judy Kilpatrick (President/CEO, DISA). Ms. Kilpatrick reported that
DISA has made several staff changes. Ms. Yvonne Meding, formerly Manager of the Technical
Department, has become the Director of the new X12 Operations Department. Mr. Tim
Cochran, formerly the Director of the Technical Department, has become the Director of the new
Standards Products and Services Department. Mr. John Hathaway, formerly X12 Database
Administrator, has become the Manger of Information Technology (IT).
Ms. Kilpatrick reported that there were approximately 770 attendees at the X12 meeting. She
stated that the February 1999 Trimester meeting is scheduled for Dallas, TX. A
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contract for the June 1999 Trimester meeting has not been negotiated. The locations under
consideration are San Diego, CA and Washington, D.C.
Ms. Kilpatrick stated that the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) audited X12 and
DISA during the summer and the initial results were very positive.
Ms. Kilpatrick reported that X12F Finance has been working with the Open Financial Exchange
(OFX) and Integrion on bill presentment standards. OFX and Integrion have created a new
organization, Interactive Financial Exchange (IFX). IFX has selected DISA to be the Secretariat
for their work and their meetings would be co-located with X12F meetings.
Ms. Martin introduced Mr. Ray Walker, UN/CEFACT Steering Group Chair.
Mr. Walker thanked X12 for inviting him to participate as an observer during the meeting week.
He stated that the relationship between X12 and the international standards community is very
active due to the efforts of X12’s membership. He recognized Ms. Irene Navarro, Mr.
Klaus-Dieter Naujok, Mr. Harry Featherstone and Mr. Irv Chmielewski for their involvement in
the UN/CEFACT process.
Mr. Walker reported that international trade is important to the success of the global economy
and X12 will continue playing a vital role in the marketplace. He stated that UN/CEFACT has a
major role in the World Trade Organization (WTO), World Customs Organization (WCO) and
the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development).
Mr. Walker stated that UN/CEFACT has negotiated a new Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). In addition, a new
UN/CEFACT strategy has been developed which emphasizes simple, transparent and effective
processes for global commerce. UN/CEFACT will examine the possibilities of linking business
processes to semantic content through a structured data modeling technique.
Mr. Walker reported that, in order for X12 and UN/EDIFACT to remain a component of
electronic business, there must be an accepted strategy for change and both groups must invest in
research and development efforts towards the next generation of EDI.
Ms. Martin yielded the floor to Mr. Bob Miller (GE), X12C Communications and Controls
Chair. Mr. Miller gave an update on Mr. Dan Codman’s (APL Group) medical condition and
expressed his wishes for Mr. Codman’s quick recovery. Mr. Miller yielded the floor to Mr.
Peter Benson (TradeRights), X12E Product Data Chair.
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Mr. Benson also expressed his best wishes for Mr. Codman. Mr. Benson stated that
Transaction Set (TS) 101 Name and Address Lists has been approved.
He stated that X12E has begun joint data maintenance work with X12K Purchasing. Mr.
Benson yielded the floor to Mr. David Barkley (Freddie Mac), X12F Finance.
Mr. Barkley stated that the Subcommittee would hold elections during the meeting week. He
announced that X12F scheduled work on development of TS 820 Payment Order/Remittance
Advice Technical Report 1 at the 4010 level. The Subcommittee scheduled the re-casting
payment segments into UN/EDIFACT messages for X12G Government.
Mr. Barkley reported that the Subcommittee would finalize TS 245 Real Estate Tax Service
Response for ballot. He announced that the Subcommittee would continue its involvement with
the SITG. Also, the Subcommittee would investigate the role of XML/EDI in financial
transactions.
Mr. Barkley reported that the Subcommittee would define X12 and DISA’s role in the
maintenance of Internet based bill presentment standards. These standards would result from
the merger of Integrion and OFX. Mr. Barkley yielded the floor to Ms. Teresa Sorrenti
(GSA/FSS), X12G Government Chair.
Ms. Sorrenti announced that X12G/TG3, UN/EDIFACT Migration, scheduled a data
maintenance tracking session to discuss the Party Information Message which aligns with X12
TS 838 Trading Partner Profile. Ms. Sorrenti yielded the floor to Mr. Robert Schroeder (J.C.
Penney), ATG Chair.
Mr. Schroeder announced several meeting logistic changes for the week. He stated that the
Task Group would continue revisions to Accredited Standards Committee X12 Electronic Data
Interchange Standing Document 6 (SD6): Operations Manual Development and Maintenance
Procedures for UN/EDIFACT Standards. Mr. Schroeder yielded the floor to Ms. Kim Lambert,
DLTG Chair.
Ms. Lambert announced that the DLTG would be re-structured in order to improve its
functionality in the international standards community.
Ms. Lambert stated that members of the DLTG attended the CEFACT meeting. Ms. Lambert
reported that Version 4 of the UN/EDIFACT Syntax Parts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 8 has been completed.
She announced that the new UN/EDIFACT Message Design Rules have been approved and they
will be published in the D.99B Version of the UN/EDIFACT Directory. A Technical
Assessment Checklist (TAC) Version 7.0 for batch and interactive messages was developed.
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She reported that the concept of a Single International TAG (SIT) has been approved. Ms.
Lambert stated that the goal is to reduce the DMR processing time from 12 months
to 4 months. The group is scheduled to hold its first meeting in January 1999. Ms. Lambert
yielded the floor to Mr. Harry Featherstone, SITG Chair.
Mr. Featherstone encouraged members to participate in the SITG’s work. He stated that the
SITG has focused on the next generation of EDI development. Mr. Featherstone reported that
the Task Group would be examining the possible change in X12’s standards development
process.
Mr. Featherstone announced that the SITG scheduled the following activities for the meeting
week:
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Continuation of the SITG training sessions. The sessions were scheduled to focus on a
single-use case scenario to provide informational training and awareness building. Mr.
Featherstone requested that the Steering Committee encourage Subcommittee participation in
the training sessions.
Information Forum on Web based EDI in the automobile industry
Information Forum on Long Running Transactions: A new model for Business to Business
Transactions
Mr. Quirt thanked Mr. Walker for his leadership in the international standards community and
his willingness to assist the X12 leadership in its activities.
Mr. Quirt adjourned the General Session at 5:15 p.m. EST.
Respectfully submitted,
Guy R. Mayer
Recording Secretary
Committee Support Administrator