Electronic data interchange is the computer-to-computer exchange of routine digital business information in an agreed upon standard. It is commonplace in many private companies and promises to become the preferred method for conducting all business in the future. With the appropriate computer hardware, software, and communications, businesses can eliminate the tedious flow of paper purchase orders, invoices, shipping forms, technical specifications, and other documents and replace them with their electronic equivalents. These guidelines provide general guidance on the implementation of American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Accredited Standards Committee (ASC) X12 electronic data interchange (EDI) standards within automated information system (AIS) and information interchange procedures that require the collections, reporting, and/or exchange of data needed to perform Defense missions. The guidance is provided for two components. First, it may be used by organizational elements of the DoD community. It may also be useful to organizations external to DoD that exchange data with the DoD community in the course of their business relationships. Many of these organizations also engage in the planning, development, test and evaluation, standardization, implementation and/or maintenance of ANSI ASC X12 standards in automated system applications and associated information interchange procedures.