IATA e-freight Message Improvement Programme (MIP)

Background

  • The Message Improvement Programme (MIP) is one of the foundations of e-freight.
  • It helps rid cargo processes of paper by improving the quality and penetration of electronic information passed between freight forwarders and airlines.
  • Although electronic standards are well defined, in many cases the basic discipline to ensure accurate data exchange between partners is lacking.
  • MIP focuses on two messages which are key to the process and are currently prone to error:
    • The FWB (Master Air Waybill) 
    • The FHL (House Manifest)
  • Stakeholders generating these messages accurately help move freight more efficiently.

Programme Elements

  • Airlines track the quality and quantity of electronic messages received and report findings to IATA every month in the format defined in the MIP Strategy document.
  • IATA consolidates and assesses the data to identify opportunities for improvement that are reported back to airlines and freight forwarders.

Benefits

  • No need to re-enter data for rejected messages (reduced man-hours)
  • Reduced fines imposed by customs in case of missing or incorrect data
  • Increased quality and penetration of EDI messages results in reduced data entry requirements and costs for all parties in the supply chain
  • Reduction in duplicate messages eliminates unnecessary communication costs

IATA’s Action Plan

  • Agree on industry targets and strategy for MIP
  • Monitor progress
  • Actively engage stakeholders in problem resolution through the root cause analysis process

Status

  • The MIP is open to all airlines and freight forwarders. 
  • To date, 34 airlines and 17 freight forwarders participate in the programme. 
  • 16 different types of reports for FWB and FHL quality and penetration are currently being distributed to participants.

Updated: November 2008