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CIECA ARCHITECTURE COMMITTEE CHARTER

Owned by Paulette Reed
Jan 20, 2021
3 min read

Background

The purpose of this committee is to define and audit business information passing between parties as it relates to the collision repair and related industries.  We are asking for responses and feedback from the industry at-large relative to the work the committee has done so far, and to emphasize the importance of continued work in this area. 

The first objective will be to develop a single focus of the committee’s scope, objectives and goals.  It is evident that a framework has already begun that can drive future progress, and success will be dependent upon an expanded active participation.

 The overseeing of standards and the proposed changes to them is needed to maintain quality and consistency. The placeholder for cooperation with other associations also needs to be centralized and changes to our co-developed products as a result. In addition to the outreach to other associations, there is a need to centralize new technology research and its integration into the standards.

 Mission

CIECA’s Architecture Committee’s goal is to establish rules and take responsibility for development of technical and architectural aspects of CIECA standards.  This committee is also responsible for researching and assessing new technologies and for acting as a liaison with other industry organizations/associations.

Leadership

The chair(s) of the Architecture Committee participates on the Standards Advisory Board (SAB).  The ideal candidate(s) will have both technical and business experience in business-to-business (B2B) data exchanges such as, but not limited to, X12/EDI, XML, and JSON syntax. 

Scope & Objectives

The Architecture Committee will focus on the potential and process of:

  • Determine the benefits to all industry segments

  • Provide industry definitions (including questions and answers) and process flows

  • Develop a standard format for data communications

  • Establishing relationships to existing data elements

  • Develop deliverables with industry participation to achieve widespread industry acceptance, functionality, and compatibility

  • Enforce Quality assurance

    • Project Documentation meets CIECA approved standards

  • Enforce Compliance with CIECA Procedures

    • Ensure new project proposals, releases, maintenance, and support guidelines for technical standards are being followed

  • Ensure Project work meets business case

    • Ensure deliverable(s) are within the scope of the business case

  • Develop project forms and templates

  • Develop and recommend new technical methods

    • Define release, maintenance, and support guidelines for technical standards

    • The goal is to focus our standards development on current technologies that have industry acceptance 

  • The current focus is based upon the development of XML and JSON documents including but not limited to:

    • Data structures

    • Schemas and/or example instances

    • Data element names and definitions

    • Code lists and code definitions

    • Naming conventions

  • Incorporate security and other standards as required

  • Develop and coordinate work that spans multiple Standards Development Committees

    • Assist committees in their development efforts

    • Review developments for reuse opportunities  

  • Responsible for training and education of technical and architectural aspects of CIECA standards

  • Other objectives as assigned by the Standards Advisory Board or the Board of Trustees

 Operating Guidelines

  • To incorporate all potential business entities in the business processes

  • To work with the group to respond to group goals and timelines

  • To provide an open working relationship with the Committee within the antitrust guidelines

  • To meet monthly or more frequently as needed

  • To maintain and make available Guides and other documents through the CIECA web site

  • To coordinate activities with other industry and standards setting organizations to gain greater acceptance and/or speed development

  • To incorporate other standards, including codes, as part of the development process

  • To coordinate with other industry standards organizations and other associations  through appointed CIECA liaisons

Industry Segments Affected

  • All 

Constraints and Assumptions

The Architecture Committee assumes the SAB will facilitate and coordinate the activities of the various CIECA Standards Development Committees (SDC).  Refer to the SAB Charter for more detailed information.   

Architecture Committee Membership

CIECA membership is required to be an Architecture voting member. Membership within Architecture is granted after attending two consecutive Architecture meetings. Attendance criteria includes full Architecture meetings as well as Architecture sub-committee meetings.  After membership is established, a member must attend at least one meeting per quarter. A scheduled meeting is a meeting announced as both CIECA webinar meetings and face to face meetings.   Membership is granted to an individual, not an organization. 

 Architecture participation is open to all individuals, however non-CIECA members do not have voting rights. An individual may participate within Architecture without being a member of Architecture.

 Industry Coordination

Coordination within the collision industry, standards organizations, and industry groups is essential for this committee to meet its objectives.  This list includes but is not limited to ASC X12, Aftermarket Council on Electronic Commerce (ACEC), ACORD, Universal Business Language (UBL), United Nations Center for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UNCEFACT), Automotive Recyclers Association (ARA), Standards for Technology and Automotive Retail (STAR), Open Travel Alliance (OTA), and other CIECA SDC.