Product Data Strategies for the Department of Defense

Abstract

DoD has undertaken a large-scale project to convert engineering drawings to electronic raster images. While DoD's approach is acceptable for preserving past data, it is not sufficient for new or reengineered product data, and it is not compatible with modern, computer-aided engineering and manufacturing technologies. DoD recognizes this and has formulated a long-term goal of representing its product data in a neutral format known informally as STEP. The international standard defining STEP, however, is incomplete and not yet supported by commercial mechanical engineering software. In this paper, we present a survey of current capabilities in computer-aided design and manufacturing software. We evaluate the ability of STEP to capture data created by that software. We present four alternatives, including STEP, by which DoD and its contractors could utilize more advanced product data than they do today. Finally, we develop a near-term transition strategy for capturing product data in currently-available formats while awaiting the STEP standard to mature.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 01, 1998
Accession Number
ADA359563

Entities

People

  • Eric L. Gentsch
  • Richard H. Warkentin

Organizations

  • LMI

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Commerce
  • Computer Programming
  • Computer Programs
  • Computer-Aided Design
  • Computers
  • Department Of Defense
  • Electronic Commerce
  • Engineering
  • Engineers
  • Manufacturing
  • Manufacturing Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Operating Systems
  • Standards
  • Three Dimensional
  • Two Dimensional
  • Web Browsers

Fields of Study

  • Computer science
  • Engineering

Readers

  • Defense Acquisition Program Management
  • Software Engineering
  • Software Engineering.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics