Adopting STEP for in-service configuration control

Abstract This paper shows the potential of STEP, 1 as it is today, to represent product data to support a range of engineering requirements. STEP is designed to enable data exchange between computer applications used throughout the product life cycle. The resulting architecture of STEP, and the methodology to produce the exchange data models, are explained briefly. The exchange data models of STEP are documented in Application Protocols. Emphasis in this paper is on the Integrated Resources, the conceptual data models from which all of the STEP exchange models are derived. These resources are not well understood and hence their value is not widely appreciated. A case study for the MoD(N) concerning information support for the in-service configuration (logistics support) of naval equipment allowed the authors to use the Integrated Resources and hence demonstrate the potential of STEP. The data model which was produced is presented in this paper. It met the requirements of the MoD(N) and was simple and flexible. The authors conclude that this work confirms the feasibility of a STEP-based approach to the development of information systems to support in-service configuration control. More importantly, it demonstrates the unexploited value of the product data framework and the detailed data models already in STEP which are used in an area not yet covered by any STEP Application Protocols.