One important aspect of product lifecycle management (PLM) is the computer-sensible representation of product information. Over the past 15 years or so, several languages and technologies have emerged that vary in their emphasis and applicability for such usage. ISO 10303, informally known as the Standard for the Exchange of Product Model Data (STEP), contains the high-quality product information models needed for electronic business solutions. By using STEP, the aerospace, automotive, and shipbuilding industries are saving $150M/yr primarily in areas related to geometric modeling. However, traditional STEP-based model information is represented using languages that are unfamiliar to most application developers, thus impeding widespread usage in other areas. This paper discusses efforts underway to make STEP information models available via mechanisms familiar to more business application developers, specifically XML and the Unified Modeling Language™ (UML®). We also present a vision and roadmap for STEP integration with XML, UML, and other technologies to enable enhanced PLM interoperability. Our conclusion is that STEP, XML, and UML are complementary technologies, where STEP provides significant standardized content models, while XML and UML provide enhanced implementation methods. Together, they are a powerful force to enable pervasive digital representation and sharing of diverse technical information.
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December 2004
Application Briefs
STEP, XML, and UML: Complementary Technologies1
Russell S. Peak, ASME Mem.,
Russell S. Peak, ASME Mem.
Georgia Institute of Technology, Manufacturing Research Center, 813 Ferst Drive, MARC 373, Atlanta, GA 30332-0560
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Joshua Lubell,
Joshua Lubell
National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8263, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8263
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Vijay Srinivasan, ASME Mem.,
Vijay Srinivasan, ASME Mem.
IBM Corporation, 1133 Westchester Avenue, Mail Drop 160, White Plains, NY 10604
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Stephen C. Waterbury
Stephen C. Waterbury
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 562, Greenbelt, MD 20771
Search for other works by this author on:
Russell S. Peak, ASME Mem.
Georgia Institute of Technology, Manufacturing Research Center, 813 Ferst Drive, MARC 373, Atlanta, GA 30332-0560
Joshua Lubell
National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8263, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8263
Vijay Srinivasan, ASME Mem.
IBM Corporation, 1133 Westchester Avenue, Mail Drop 160, White Plains, NY 10604
Stephen C. Waterbury
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 562, Greenbelt, MD 20771
Contributed by the Engineering Informatics (EIX) Committee for publication in the JOURNAL OF COMPUTING AND INFORMATION SCIENCE IN ENGINEERING. Manuscript received May 8, 2004; Revised September 18, 2004. Associate Editor: R. Rangan.
J. Comput. Inf. Sci. Eng. Dec 2004, 4(4): 379-390 (12 pages)
Published Online: January 4, 2005
Article history
Received:
May 8, 2004
Revised:
September 18, 2004
Online:
January 4, 2005
Citation
Peak , R. S., Lubell , J., Srinivasan , V., and Waterbury , S. C. (January 4, 2005). "STEP, XML, and UML: Complementary Technologies." ASME. J. Comput. Inf. Sci. Eng. December 2004; 4(4): 379–390. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.1818683
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