Read your IMDS In Box and Outbox through an API

What you can build on IMDS

• Get received MDSs

  Build this

  Runs the Received MDSs search in the In Box with the status and date filters you pick and reads the result list.

  Takes

  Status (optional), transmitted from and to (optional), supplier (optional)

  Returns

  Name, ID / version, internal number, part/item number, transmitted date, from company, status, last status changed

• Check the status of sent MDSs

  Build this

  Runs the Sent MDSs search in the Outbox for the recipient and statuses you pick and reads each MDS's status and last change.

  Takes

  Recipient (optional), status (optional), last status changed from (optional)

  Returns

  Name, ID / version, internal number, drawing number, purchase order number, recipient, status, last status changed

• Read a received MDS

  Build this

  Opens one received MDS and reads Common Information and Dates on its Ingredients tab.

  Takes

  MDS ID / version

  Returns

  Type, ID / version, node ID, MDS supplier, description, part/item number, preliminary MDS, multi sourced, create date, release date

• Reject a received MDS with a reason

  Build this

  Opens a received MDS from the In Box, chooses Reject and enters your text in Reason for denial.

  Takes

  MDS ID / version, reason for denial

  Returns

  ID / version, status, last status changed, reason for denial

Automate IMDS with a workflow

A workflow runs your methods as one process, with nobody at the screen. A schedule or a call from your own system starts it, the steps run in order, and the result arrives in your inbox or in the systems you already use.

• New MDSs in the In Box, every weekday

  Build this

  Starts

  Every weekday at 7:00

  Step 1

  Get the received MDSs with status not yet browsed.

  Step 2

  Keep the MDSs that were not there on the last run.

  Step 3

  Email you the list with name, ID / version, part/item number, from company and transmitted date.

• Rejected MDSs from your customers, to your PLM system

  Build this

  Starts

  Every weekday at 8:00

  Step 1

  Check the sent MDSs with status rejected.

  Step 2

  Keep the MDSs whose status changed since the last run.

  Step 3

  Post name, ID / version, recipient and last status changed to your PLM or ERP webhook.

• Weekly MDS status report per customer

  Build this

  Starts

  Every Monday at 9:00

  Step 1

  For each customer you name, check the status of the MDSs you sent.

  Step 2

  Count accepted, rejected, not yet browsed, browsed and in process at recipient.

  Step 3

  Email you the counts per customer with the MDSs still open.

You can run a workflow by hand on every plan, Free included. Schedules and webhook triggers come with the paid plans, from $29 a month.

Once built, one call from your code

Once you have built a method, it is one POST to /v1/runs from your backend, or a tool an AI agent calls over MCP. This is what “Get received MDSs” would look like.

curl https://api.fous.com/v1/runs \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $FOUS_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "method": "www.mdsystem.com/get_received_mds",
    "input": {
      "status": "not yet browsed",
      "transmitted_from": "2026-11-02"
    }
  }'

{
  "status": "completed",
  "data": {
    "status": "not yet browsed",
    "mds": [
      {
        "name": "Seat frame bracket LH",
        "id_version": "3104528817 / 2",
        "internal_number": "SFB-2207",
        "part_item_no": "AC-77120-L",
        "transmitted": "2026-11-10",
        "from_company": "Northwind Metal Parts [ID 214630]",
        "status": "not yet browsed",
        "last_status_changed": "2026-11-10"
      }
    ],
    "count": 1
  }
}

An example with invented data, not a ready-made endpoint. The method exists in your organization once you build it, and its name, inputs and fields follow your request.

IMDS’s own options

Using IMDS in the browser is free for the supply chains of IMDS participants. Machine exchange runs through IMDS Connect, a paid company licence that delivers flat-file downloads and takes XML uploads, priced by imports and accepted MDSs. IMDS Plus adds the Examiner and Inbox Automation inside the web application, for a licence.

Read on November 12, 2026: IMDS Connect pricing, IMDS upload and download, IMDS Plus FAQs.

Signing in to IMDS

IMDS signs you in with a system-generated user ID and password plus an external factor, and it sends login information by email. Three wrong password or MFA attempts de-activate the account. With Fous you sign in once through IMDS's own sign-in with your own user: the login is sealed with AES-256 and never returned by the API.

Worth knowing

Accepting counts against IMDS Connect

Under IMDS Connect each accepted MDS counts toward your fee, whether you accept it in IMDS or through Status Upload. Releasing, rejecting and deleting MDSs are free.

The Advanced Interface is gone

IMDS Connect went live on 1 February 2025 and replaced the IMDS Advanced Interface, which can no longer be ordered. Connect uses the same files, and older contracts run until they end.

Inbox Automation lives in your session

IMDS Plus Inbox Automation checks for received MDSs only while your IMDS Plus session is open. When you log out, the Examiner results are discarded.

Three wrong attempts de-activate a user

IMDS de-activates a user account after 3 wrong password or MFA attempts, and also when it is not used for a set period. Use each user regularly so it stays active.

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