JSTEP using Express for their advanced projects

Japan STEP Promotion Center was established in 1980 as a single STEP Centre in Japan and as a joint industrial and government organisation to promote and use STEP standards in industry. There are three main activities: Promotion of STEP standardisation, research and awareness of STEP technology and general development and implementation of STEP.

In 1996, industrial sectors such as automobile, aircraft, process plant, construction and shipbuilding have initiated their CALS pilot projects with STEP-, SGML- and EDI-related sub tasks. These projects will certainly accelerate STEP implementation in Japan, with 1997 being a year of STEP breakthrough and 1998 "in full production".

Lots of Fujitsu activities in STEP

Fujitsu, Ltd. has established "Fujitsu STEP Research & Development Centre" in October 1996, which is the first centre in Japan for development of STEP technology and products. Fujitsu positively promotes through this centre STEP related businesses including research & development, solution services and so on.

To meet customers' requirements, businesses of Fujitsu STEP Research & Development Centre are as follows:
Accumulation of STEP related technologies by e.g. development of essential technology, new product development and adaptation of STEP into existing products.

World wide business development:

Total solution services, e.g. Customer support for systems integration and support for training of engineers, etc.
Now, Fujitsu is promoting CALS business positively, and the Fujitsu STEP Research & Development Centre is a core of Fujitsu's CALS business. Moreover, Fujitsu contributes to the promoting of STEP from a global aspect through close cooperation with domestic and overseas organisations, including Japan STEP Promotion Centre (JSTEP). In this respect, the possibility to exchange technology information and contribute to promotion of STEP all over the world has been investigated.

EPM Technology and Fujitsu have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, which states that each company will contribute to the promotion of STEP/Express solutions on an international level and exchange information for the purpose to advice when requested. Fujitsu have now access to some 20 licenses of the EXPRESS Data Manager.