EXPRESS Data Manager - the STEP enabler for the PDM industry

Photo: POSC/CAESAR

Data Management (PDM) information — by most companies managed in proprietary formats and systems — is a typical example, although the data or their mapping to target systems are not so complex.

Consultants analyzing the PDM industry conclude that up to 80 per cent of PDM installations fail.¹ The main reason is that the current PDM paradigm offers a vendor-specific data model and that necessary modifications to support the business processes are not recommended because of increased maintenance costs and compatibility problems in the life time of the system. The failure arises when the organization will not let go of existing (legacy) systems in fear of new systems seriously obstructing day-to-day work.

In the new PDM paradigm, the data model is based on a standardized core: the STEP² PDM schema. Modifications are supported through schema interfacing and/or by specialization of objects. When interoperability (which is the objective of data models in STEP) is not achieved, a mapping can be set up to provide conversion of datasets or views to the legacy system.

To avoid the legacy problem arising with this approach, the support of interoperating data models or mapping between them is required. The STEP technology allows full integration of data between proprietary PDM systems and standard software solutions, such as Metaphase, ProductManager, Notia and Optegra. By using mapping tools which support STEP, data can be shared between systems and companies regardless of formats. EXPRESS Data Manager from EPM Technology is such a STEP mapping tool.

Towards integrated enterprise-wide solutions

One of the most important trends in today's business world is the transition from stand-alone systems towards integrated, enterprise-wide solutions with full compatibility available through the network. By using EXPRESS Data Manager, PDM environments can take advantage of the benefits offered by fully integrated, enterprise-wide solutions. Some of the greatest challenges are how to integrate PDM systems with traditional CAD or PDM environments; the administration of data rather than files; and the creation and availability of common data pools to be utilized by several applications simultaneously.

For further information about PDM schemas visit these web sites:

ftp://pdes.scra.org/pub/apinterop/omg_pdm

http://www.omg.org/archives/mfg/

Integration of PDM systems with technical applications

Soon, customers and suppliers will be demanding a standard format to be used whenever external exchange of production data is involved. Today, enormous amounts are wasted on converting production data. Using a common format, the various participators in a project will not only save money but also considerably reduce time-to-market.

The widespread use of the STEP standard increases accessibility of information and integration of value chains. Since data models are stored together with the data as whole structures, information can easily be shared between applications and systems, for example over the Internet.

A common data warehouse ó mapping and translation engines

Implementing the STEP standard in an integrated PDM system in the organization will enable all applications to "talk the same language." This makes it possible to establish a common data pool or data warehouse, using an enterprise-wide network, where all technical applications and administrative PDM tools can share the same data. Various users with various applications will be able to process the same data at the same time. The data are only registered once in one place, thereby reducing the need for revisions and simplifying the quality control.

The system analyst needs to identify the source and target data models. Then the required mapping is performed in the mapping description language, EXPRESS-X, and the translation engine is automatically generated and ready to be put into operation.

Intergraph Notia, a commercially available STEP based data warehouse, is a good example of how information handling can be simplified. Notia, with EPM Technology's EXPRESS Data Manager as its front end is used by for example the Norwegian oil and gas company Statoil in a conversion project. EXPRESS-X is used to convert data from several different PDM applications and the data is stored in a common data warehouse in the STEP format.

By adopting these new technologies, all applications can utilize an advanced mapping engine to perform data exchange and gain data access. This will then result in a more efficient production process and consequently save costs.

¹ Design News, February, 1998
² STEP or ISO 10303 "Product data representation and exchange" is a neutral standard providing a solution to the data exchange and sharing problem.