NISTIR 5839

Systems Integration for Manufacturing Applications Program 1995 Annual Report

James E. Fowler
Mark E. Luce
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Technology Administration
National Insitute of Standards
and Technology
Maufacturing Engineering Laboratory
Manufacturing Systems Integration Division
Gaithersburg, MD 20899
May 1996
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Michael Kantor, Secretary

TECHNOLOGY ADMINISTRATION
Mary l. Good, Under Secretary for Technology

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STADARDS
AND TECHNOLOGY
Arati Prabhakar, Director

An intramural NIST research and standards development program applying High Performance Computing and Communications technology to manufacturing applications.

Program Office Staff

The SIMA Program Office is responsible for managing and compiling information for all projects supported by the SIMA program. The SIMA program office staff are:

Disclaimer

 No approval or endorsement of any commercial product by the National Institute of Standards and Technology is intended or implied. Certain commercial equipment, instruments, or materials are identified in this report in order to facilitate understanding. Such identification does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, nor does it imply that the materials or equipment identified are necessarily the best available for the purpose.

This publication was prepared by United States Government employees as part of their official duties and is, therefore, a work of the U.S. Government and not subject to copyright.

Table of Contents

Executive Summary 1

Introduction 4

Background 4

Industry Needs 5

Program Strategy 7

Manufacturing Systems Environment (MSE) 7

Standards Development Environment (SDE) 7

Testbeds and Technology Transfer Environment (TTTE) 7

Program Operation 8

Program Accomplishments 10

Manufacturing Systems Environment Project Summaries 11

MSE1: Design Applications 11
MSE2: Electronic Commerce for the Electronics Industry (ECCI) 12
MSE3: Integration Mechanisms 13
MSE4: Modeling of Manufacturing Resource (MR) Information 14
MSE5: Operator Interfaces for Virtual and Distributed Manufacturing 16
MSE6: Process Planning Applications 17
MSE7: Process Plant Engineering and Construction 18
MSE8: Production Applications 19
MSE9: Reference Model Architecture 21
MSE10: STEP for the Process Plant Industries 23
MSE11: Virtual Enterprise Frameworks for Small Manufacturers 24
MSE12: Virtual Reality for Manufacturing 26

Standards Development Environment Project Summaries 27

SDE1: Application Protocol Development Environment (APDE) 27
SDE2: STEP Conformance Testing 29
SDE3: STEP Implementations 31

Testbeds and Technology Transfer Environment Project Summaries 32

TTTE1: Advanced Manufacturing Systems and Networking Testbed 32
TTTE2: AMSANT for Process Plant Industries 33
TTTE3: Analysis Tools for Assessment and Optimization of Process and Product Design 34
TTTE4: Manufacturing Information Technology Transfer 35
TTTE5: Standard Reference Data Delivery and Use 36

Conclusion 37

Future plans 37

References 38

Appendix A: Collaborators 39

Consortia, National Programs, and Trade Associations 39

Individual Companies 42

Government Agencies 44

Academic Institutions 45

Standards Committees 46

Appendix B: FY94 and FY95 Project Publications 47

Appendix C: Program Products Available 50

Appendix D: AMSANT Software Systems Available 51


Executive Summary

 The goal of the U.S. government's High Performance Computing and Communication (HPCC) Program is to accelerate the development of future generations of high performance computers and networks and the use of these resources in the government and throughout the U.S. economy. The Information Infrastructure Technology and Applications (IITA) component of HPCC supports research and development efforts that will enable integration of critical information systems and demonstrate feasible solutions to problems of national importance. NIST's Systems Integration for Manufacturing Applications Program (SIMA) is the agency's coordinating focus for its activities supporting IITA advanced manufacturing goals. Specifically, the SIMA Program addresses the IITA manufacturing goals of performing research and development to:

Introduction

 The Systems Integration for Manufacturing Applications (SIMA) Program is a major intramural effort being undertaken at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to support the application of advanced computing and networking technologies to the manufacturing domain. The purpose of this report is to describe the organization of the program and to summarize the program's accomplishments during FY94 and FY95 -- the first two years of the program. With the publication of this report, the SIMA Program also intends to promote interest in the technical activities of the program and establish new partnerships.

This report provides an overview of the program, describes the technical projects comprising the program, and highlights key accomplishments for each project. In addition, the appendices provide a detailed listing of project collaborators, as well as a listing of project publications and other available project resources. The intended audience for this document includes NIST staff working on SIMA-supported projects, private sector organizations collaborating with NIST, government agencies supporting the government initiative on High Performance Computing and Communications (HPCC), and the general public. This report is available via the SIMA external home page (http://elib.cme.nist.gov/msid/projs/sima-pm/sima.htm) or by electronic mail request to the SIMA Program office secretary (blthomas@cme.nist.gov).

Background

The goal of the U.S. government's High Performance Computing and Communication (HPCC) Program is to accelerate the development of future generations of high performance computers and networks and the use of these resources in the government and throughout the U.S. economy. The HPCC Program was formally established by the High Performance Computing Act of 1991 (Public Law 102-194). The four original components1 of the HPCC Program were augmented in FY94 with a new component known as Information Infrastructure Technology and Applications (IITA) [1]. The IITA component supports research and development efforts that will enable integration of critical information systems and demonstrate feasible solutions to problems of national importance [2]. Twenty-first century manufacturing, i.e., advanced manufacturing processes and products, is one of the challenges to be addressed by IITA activities [3]. NIST's SIMA Program is the agency's coordinating focus for its activities supporting IITA advanced manufacturing goals. The goals and supporting plans for the Program were originally described in [4]. Specifically, the SIMA Program addresses the IITA manufacturing goals of performing research and development to:

Industry Needs

 The systems integration requirements of U.S. manufacturing firms can best be captured by close interaction with industry representatives possessing first hand experience in addressing the integration problems of software systems supporting manufacturing activities. As a NIST program, SIMA is guided by these interactions to set priorities supporting U.S. industries. These interactions have included both conferences and workshops convened by NIST before and after the SIMA Program was initiated.

A workshop entitled "System Integration Needs of U.S. Manufacturers" was held at NIST in 1993 to identify the key systems integration needs of U.S. manufacturers in the areas of technology development, standards development, and technology transfer [6]. These needs were defined in terms of the objectives set forth for NIST by the advanced manufacturing application focus planned for the IITA component of HPCC. The results of that workshop have been used to define the role of the SIMA program with respect to the requirements of U.S. industry and to help identify mechanisms by which NIST can respond to industry priorities.

A second workshop entitled "SIMA Interactive Management Workshop" was held at the Defense Systems Management College in November 1994 [7]. The workshop brought together representatives from industry and government programs in the area of manufacturing systems integration resulting in the definition of actions for the SIMA Program and the identification of leveraging opportunities between SIMA and other government and/or industry programs. Another result of that workshop was identification of opportunities for collaboration between programs to maximize the resources being applied to system integration.

In addition to the focused workshops described above, SIMA sponsored a background study of industry requirements in the area of manufacturing systems integration [8]. The study assessed integration requirements for design, planning, and production software applications that support manufacturing. Existing technologies and emerging standards were reviewed to identify technical obstacles faced by industry in developing integrated manufacturing systems. The results of this study provide an understanding of the scope of integration problems related to the design, planning and production of mechanical products. The background study provides a useful overview of why SIMA is focusing on integration problems and establishes a baseline for SIMA efforts in manufacturing systems integration. Additionally, the report provides a rationale for developing collaborative efforts among NIST, industry, other government agencies, research organizations, and standards bodies.

The workshops and background study are examples of the many formal mechanisms the SIMA Program uses to solicit industry priorities for technology and standards efforts. These workshops have resulted in the identification of numerous integration problems and a wide range of recommendations for the direction of the SIMA Program. However, given that SIMA is a program with limited resources, and given the priorities, mission and direction of NIST laboratory programs, SIMA must focus its primary efforts on traditional NIST products (measurements, standards, databases, process models, etc.) that fit within the scope of the program. Given those constraints, the SIMA Program focussed its efforts in three areas defined so that each addresses system integration needs identified by industry. The three areas defined for SIMA support of manufacturing systems integration were: (1) technology development, (2) standards development, and (3) testbeds and technology transfer.

Program Strategy

 To align the resources of the program with the needs defined by industry and still ensure support for the IITA initiative goals, the SIMA Program has been organized into three program areas. All SIMA efforts fall within one or more of these three areas. The program areas are known as: (1) Manufacturing Systems Environment, (2) Standards Development Environment, and (3) Testbed and Technology Transfer Environment. Activities within each area satisfy a unique NIST role in support of the HPCC/IITA goals and address the major technology and standards issues outlined in the IITA program report [2]. The focus of each of the three program areas is described below.

Manufacturing Systems Environment (MSE)

The objectives of this environment are to develop integration technologies and standards in support of a broad range of industrial manufacturing domains that include mechanical products, apparel, electronics, construction, and chemical processing. The application systems of interest within these domains include design (product, process, and enterprise), planning, scheduling, process modeling, shop control, simulation, inspection, assembly, and machining. The problem scope includes manufacturing systems integration both within and among multiple enterprises. The MSE projects focus on the development of infrastructure technologies, interface protocols, and information models with the intention of applying these integration solutions to application system incompatibilities. Typical integration and interface technology solutions include network communications, information protocols for product and process data, database technologies, and frameworks. The major result of MSE activities are integration specifications for manufacturing systems and prototype process models for use throughout the manufacturing environment.

Standards Development Environment (SDE)

The objectives of this environment are to assist industry in implementing voluntary consensus standards relevant to computer integrated manufacturing (CIM), facilitate industry efforts to test new applications of advanced manufacturing systems and networks, facilitate efforts to develop and test new data exchange standards utilizing HPCC technology, and accelerate industry deployment of consensus standards. There is a general theme of providing effective support environments for the development of standards as well as facilitating the harmonization across the broad spectrum of standards that compose the range of information and supporting technology required for enterprise integration. Several projects will be involved in coordinating the support mechanisms and information across the various industries.

Testbeds and Technology Transfer Environment (TTTE)

The objectives of this environment are to develop technology transfer infrastructure which can be used to exchange manufacturing information using HPCC technology, to develop prototype information services in collaboration with industry partners which could become commercialized products, to develop services related to document searches and retrieval of government and other research reports, and to establish communication channels for network of researchers and implementors of manufacturing technologies. Testbeds developed under the auspices of TTTE are intended to serve as demonstration sites that industrial technology suppliers and users can utilize, to serve as the interfaces to a network of technology development testbeds across the United States, and to serve as the focal points for information dissemination.

Program Operation

The SIMA Program is one of five that has been created at NIST in response to the HPCC initiative (see Figure 1). The SIMA Program is directed by a manager in the Manufacturing Systems Integration Division (MSID) of NIST's Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory (MEL). In addition to overseeing the SIMA Program, the SIMA Program office manages selected external relationships with other agency programs supporting the HPCC initiative, serves as liaison to the HPCC Information Technology committee, and assists with long-range planning and program support for NIST laboratories participating in the program. The program manager is responsible for:

Building and Fire Research Laboratory (BFRL)

 BFRL works to enhance the competitiveness of U.S. industry and public safety through performance prediction and measurement technologies and technical advances that improve the lifecycle quality of constructed facilities.

Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory (CSTL)

As the Nation's Reference Laboratory, CSTL performs cutting edge research in measurement science. The Laboratory develops and maintains measurement methods, standards, and reference data; and develops models for chemical, biochemical, and physical properties and processes.

Computing and Applied Mathematics Laboratory (CAML)/ Computing System Laboratory (CSL)

CAML and CSL are in the process of merging into a single Information Technology Laboratory (ITL). The ITL develops, demonstrates, and supplies high quality information technology, metrology, and standards that enable U.S. industry to develop usable, reliable, interoperable products. In doing so, the ITL serves as a neutral agent to accelerate acceptance and use of information technology that will promote economic competitiveness and the public good. The ITL provides leadership and collaborative research to NIST programs in the areas of mathematics, statistics, and information technology use and services to enable NIST to maintain its status as a world class institution.

Electronic and Electrical Engineering Laboratory (EEEL)

EEEL promotes U.S. economic growth through improved international competitiveness, by providing measurement capability of high economic impact focussed primarily on the critical needs of the U.S. electronics and electrical-equipment industries.

Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory (MEL)

MEL works to improve the competitiveness of U.S. manufacturing by working with industry to develop and apply infrastructural technology, measurements, and standards.

Material Science and Engineering Laboratory (MSEL)

MSEL works to stimulate the more effective production and use of materials by working with materials suppliers and users to assure the development and implementation of the measurements and standards infrastructure for materials.

Physics Laboratory (PL)

PL supports U.S. industry by providing measurement services and research for electronic, optical, and radiation technology.

Technology Services (TS)

TS provides a wide variety of services and programs to help U.S. industry improve its international competitiveness. TS supplies NIST reference materials, data, and calibrations to help industry maintain production quality control. TS also provides information and assistance concerning national and international voluntary and regulatory product standards and certification systems.

Program Accomplishments

This section summarizes the accomplishments of each SIMA Program technical project. Project summaries are organized by program environment element. Each project summary provides a brief description of objectives, activities, and accomplishments. Further information on any project may be obtained by contacting the project manager listed for that project.

Manufacturing Systems Environment Project Summaries

MSE1: Design Applications

 Project Manager: Kevin Lyons

Telephone: (301) 975 - 6550

E-mail: klyons@cme.nist.gov

This project is addressing integration and information exchange issues associated with design engineering, interoperation, and the modeling of engineering processes. Specifically, the project focuses efforts in the following four areas:

FY94 & 95 Accomplishments

Collaborations

MSE2: Electronic Commerce for the Electronics Industry (ECCI)

 Project Manager: James St. Pierre

Telephone: (301) 975 - 4124

E-mail: jimstp@eeel.nist.gov

This project is providing mechanisms for access to electronic component design data at various points in the design flow through development of formats and protocols for exchange of product component information. Specifically the project is focussing on:

FY94 & 95 Accomplishments

Collaborations

MSE3: Integration Mechanisms

 Project Manager: Neil Christopher

Telephone: (301) 975 - 3888

E-mail: neilc@cme.nist.gov

The U.S. manufacturing industry is strengthening customer-supplier relationships at the systems level and is supporting these relationships by integrating distributed manufacturing systems. The SIMA Integration project is working with three national consortia as well as with other NIST projects to develop integration standards for distributed manufacturing software systems. The basis for these standards are models of manufacturing-related information and corresponding protocols for exchange. These models and protocols are critical to defining and designing the interfaces between software applications. Well defined interfaces are critical to reducing the cost of creating distributed manufacturing software systems. These models, protocols, and standards will be of particular use to system integrators and software providers building systems that support product design, manufacturing engineering, and production engineering activities.

FY94 & 95 Accomplishments

Collaborations

MSE4: Modeling of Manufacturing Resource (MR) Information

 Project Manager: Kevin Jurrens

Telephone: (301) 975 - 5486

E-mail: jurrens@cme.nist.gov

This project is developing and validating a proposed common representation for manufacturing resource (MR) data. Specifically, a limited scope of MR data is addressed, including milling and turning machine tools; cutting tools appropriate to the processes of milling, drilling, boring, reaming, tapping, and turning; cutting tool inserts; and the tool holding and assembly components required to mount the cutting tools to the machines. Electronic representations of manufacturing resources are used within a variety of software applications, including manufacturing process planning, manufacturing simulation, tool selection, and machine tool programming systems. Each software system typically represents this data using different formats, which results in a manufacturing facility storing and maintaining MR data multiple times. This situation causes much duplicate work for maintaining the information, redundant stores of MR data which may or may not contain the most recent and accurate information, and longer lead times for implementing new systems which require this data. System integration or sharing of resource data between systems or engineering functions is not possible without information loss in the current environment. The work of this project addresses these concerns by developing a publicly available representation for MR data that is common to a variety of software applications and engineering functions and attempts to satisfy the various perspectives and requirements from MR vendors, manufacturing software vendors, and mechanical parts manufacturers. The solution proposed by this project is based upon a thorough analysis of current representations from the various perspectives. The project intends to evaluate the completeness and usability of the proposed data structure through prototype implementation in a shared database environment to support multiple CAE applications. The project results are expected to provide a catalyst for a standardized MR data structure by providing proven results and a working strawman to appropriate standards organizations.

FY94 & 95 Accomplishments

Collaborations

MSE5: Operator Interfaces for Virtual and Distributed Manufacturing

 Project Manager: Ernie Kent

Telephone: (301) 975 - 3460

E-mail: kent@cme.nist.gov

The objective of this project is to understand and address standards issues in human interfaces for virtual and distributed manufacturing systems employing HPCC technology. The project is developing methods to collect and present relevant manufacturing information at an appropriate level of abstraction for interactively examining remote operations and representations, and cooperatively controlling remote systems.

The issue addressed is that of human interfaces for control of distributed and simulated manufacturing systems, as developed in a laboratory setting for the SIMA AMSANT facility. The focus is not only on remote interaction with shop-floor equipment, but also on interfaces for development, management and control of plant, operations, processes, and design at a variety of levels such as shop-floor supervisor, production foreman, plant manager, production executives, facility designers, product designers, process designers, and consultants. The general problem is to collect and present the relevant information, at the appropriate level of detail, and in the most efficient possible format, to a variety of remote decision-makers and allow them to examine interactively remote situations and cooperatively control the remote environments. Issues with which the project is concerned are:

FY94 & 95 Accomplishments

Collaborations

MSE6: Process Planning Applications

 Project Manager: Steven Ray

Telephone: (301) 975 - 3524

E-mail: ray@cme.nist.gov

The objective of this project is to improve the capabilities and integration of manufacturing planning applications. This is being addressed in three ways: (1) specifying a series of information and process models and communications protocols needed by manufacturing planning systems, (2) implementing these specifications as part of an integration activity using commercial planning system software, and (3) developing a repository of information supporting the research, development, and integration of future planning system applications. The information shared between the planning functions and other engineering functions such as design, scheduling, and production is being identified, formally modeled, and implemented as a series of databases. Access to these databases will be via accepted or emerging standard mechanisms.

FY94 & 95 Accomplishments

Collaborations

MSE7: Process Plant Engineering and Construction

 Project Manager: Kent Reed

Telephone: (301) 975 - 5852

E-mail: kent.reed@nist.gov

The object of this project is to work with U.S. industry to develop its technical capability to represent and exchange information supporting the design and construction of structural systems using internationally accepted protocols. ISO TC 184/SC 4 has recently embarked on a STEP application protocol project that addresses structural steelwork, based on European input from the Eureka CIMSteel project. NIST is working with U.S. industry members and the cognizant professional society, the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), to ensure that this STEP project properly addresses U.S. requirements. NIST is exploring the potential use of STEP application protocols to create virtual construction environments that allow engineers and constructors to visualize and manipulate a common process plant model from widely disparate viewpoints.

FY94 & 95 Accomplishments

Collaborations

MSE8: Production Applications

 Project Manager: Charles McLean

Telephone: (301) 975 - 3511

E-mail: mclean@cme.nist.gov

This project is addressing integration problems associated with production engineering, scheduling, and simulation systems. The project is developing process models, information models, and interface specifications, databases, and extensions to commercial production software that resolve or facilitate system integration. After assessing industry needs, this project has selected and installed software applications that are used to engineer a production system, perform production scheduling, and simulate production. Prototype integrated systems are being constructed from commercial products and industry provided data. The principal elements of the technical approach are to:

FY94 & 95 Accomplishments

Collaborations

MSE9: Reference Model Architecture

 Project Manager: Harry Scott

Telephone: (301) 975 - 3437

E-mail: scott@cme.nist.gov

The objective of this project is to develop a detailed design of a reference model architecture for intelligent control of manufacturing processes and to demonstrate, validate and evaluate the NIST Reference Model Architecture through analysis and performance measurements of a simulated and prototype implementation. The approach includes leveraging the work of other programs, such as the NIST Enhanced Machine Controller, in developing interface specifications among the architectural components, and working with industry in developing tools to support development of Reference Model Architecture based system implementations. The goals of this work are to provide U.S. industry with state-of-the-art manufacturing architectures and models, foster the development and implementation of advanced manufacturing systems, and anticipate and address the needs of the U.S. manufacturing industry for the next generation of advanced systems and standards.

FY94 & 95 Accomplishments

Collaborations

MSE10: STEP for the Process Plant Industries

 Project Manager: Mark Palmer

Telephone: (301) 975 - 5858

E-mail: palmer@enh.nist.gov

This project is working with industry to develop, test and demonstrate the STEP application protocols needed for exchanging and sharing information during the design, construction, operations, and maintenance of process plants. The objectives of this project are:

FY94 & 95 Accomplishments

Collaborations

MSE11: Virtual Enterprise Frameworks for Small Manufacturers

 Project Manager: Howard Moncarz

Telephone: (301) 975 - 3548

E-mail: moncarz@cme.nist.gov

In this project, NIST researchers are developing a virtual enterprise framework in collaboration with the custom therapeutic footwear (CTF) industry. The framework will be used to develop interoperability standards needed by the industry to integrate the manufacturing processes required. The effort will enable the CTF industry to enjoy the benefits from open, modular, and reconfigurable integration of commercial software applications that support the design, planning, and production of products within the SIMA vision of a virtual manufacturing enterprise. Project collaborators comprise a broad set of domain experts, including medical researchers who are studying foot problems and treatment with CTF, manufacturing technologists who are developing new manufacturing technologies (e.g., automated foot measurement devices, new CTF CAD systems, etc.), and the CTF manufacturers themselves to deploy and test the new technologies in an actual business scenario.

FY94 & 95 Accomplishments

Collaborations

MSE12: Virtual Reality for Manufacturing

 Project Manager: Sandy Ressler

Telephone: (301) 975 - 3549

E-mail: sressler@nist.gov

The objective of this project is to explore the use of virtual reality (VR) technology to assist the manufacturing industry in achieving systems integration of manufacturing applications. This is being done by enhancing several SIMA applications through VR technology. Current limitations of VR technology are being scrutinized, different ways to make the technology more efficient are being explored, and VR standards which will enhance the manufacturing process are being investigated. VR is usually defined as a computer-generated simulation of a three dimensional environment, in which the user is both able to view and manipulate the contents of that environment, gather information, and effectively solve problems.

FY94 & 95 Accomplishments

Collaborations

Standards Development Environment Project Summaries

SDE1: Application Protocol Development Environment (APDE)

 Project Manager: Mary Mitchell

Telephone: (301) 975 - 3287

E-mail: mitchell@cme.nist.gov

The APDE project is accelerating the development of STEP and aiding application protocol (AP) developers in creating STEP specifications more efficiently, with high quality and at a lower cost, by establishing an integrated suite of software tools. Application protocols submitted to ISO must meet specified criteria for standardization and usually require extensive rework before they are allowed to progress through the standards process. Current practices used for AP development require extraordinary labor expenditures on behalf of AP developers to define AP documents. While AP developers may use some software tools to help them accomplish their AP development tasks, the tools work independently, are not integrated, and have not been customized specifically for the purpose of AP development.

The software tools being developed in the APDE project are integrated and they interact with a central information repository at NIST. The repository consists of STEP-related documents and data, much of it represented in Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML). As the project matures, collaboration with various software suppliers will be established. The APDE goal is 40% reduction of the AP development cycle time, currently estimated at 2-4 years with 4-6 full time equivalent staff.

FY94 & 95 Accomplishments

Collaborations

SDE2: STEP Conformance Testing

 Project Manager: Mary Mitchell

Telephone: (301) 975 - 3287

E-mail: mitchell@cme.nist.gov

This project is providing the means by which vendor's software products will be measured for conformance to the STEP standard, through development of a set of value added software tools that will be made available for vendors to use during their product development process. Under this approach, vendors gain confidence that their products can successfully pass testing, vendors have access to tools that improve the quality of their products and reduce the costs of software testing, and vendors gain in the expanded market that user confidence in testing brings.

FY94 & 95 Accomplishments

Collaborations

SDE3: STEP Implementations

 Project Manager: Mary Mitchell

Telephone: (301) 975 - 3287

E-mail: mitchell@cme.nist.gov

This project is accelerating the adoption of STEP by promoting development of industry consensus on implementation and facilitating implementation of production-ready STEP applications. NIST is working with industry to identify requirements for interoperable systems by providing guidance on implementing STEP within a well defined scope, by developing test methodologies and data exchange metrics, and by testing STEP translators within the context of industrial pilots. NIST is working to ensure implementation experience is fed back into the standards process. The goal is to achieve the introduction of STEP into production environments. The project is collaborating with the AutoSTEP pilot which includes participants from Ford, General Motors, Chrysler and their suppliers. NIST has interviewed industry collaborators to obtain information on requirements and infrastructure data. This project has established and will maintain an on-line database of STEP translator problems. Project collaborators will log the results of each STEP data transfer. CAD system vendors will use this data to identify and fix problems in subsequent software releases. The project aims to ensure that STEP is responsive to the product data needs of U.S. industry.

FY94 & 95 Accomplishments

Collaborations

Testbeds and Technology Transfer Environment Project Summaries

TTTE1: Advanced Manufacturing Systems and Networking Testbed

 Project Manager: Robert Densock

Telephone: (301) 975 - 6546

E-mail: densock@cme.nist.gov

The Advanced Manufacturing Systems and Networking Testbed (AMSANT) facility houses special purpose, high-performance computers equipped with high speed networking (Asynchronous Transfer Mode - ATM) capabilities that are being used by NIST researchers and external collaborators to develop new manufacturing technologies and standards, as well as demonstrate proof-of-concept solutions to manufacturing systems integration problems. MEL is teamed with NIST's Computing and Applied Mathematics Laboratory and Computer Systems Laboratory to pioneer an ATM backbone network at NIST and to connect NIST to the ATDnet. The ATDnet is a Washington area ATM test network that connects several government agencies performing research on the NII.

FY94 & 95 Accomplishments

Collaborations

TTTE2: AMSANT for Process Plant Industries

 Project Manager: Kent Reed

Telephone: (301) 975 - 5852

E-mail: kent.reed@nist.gov

The objective of this project is to establish an experimental computing and communication facility to:

FY94 & 95 Accomplishments

Collaborations

TTTE3: Analysis Tools for Assessment and Optimization of Process and Product Design

 Project Manager: James Filliben

Telephone: (301) 975 - 2855

E-mail: filliben@cam.nist.gov

The objective of this project is to develop an integrated computer environment which provides a design/manufacturing engineer immediate on-line access to those statistical analysis tools necessary for characterizing, modeling, monitoring, and optimizing a process or product. This is achieved by creating an engineering-friendly, integrated system with the following capabilities:

FY94 & 95 Accomplishments

Collaborations

TTTE4: Manufacturing Information Technology Transfer

 Project Manager: Michelle Potts Steves

Telephone: (301) 975 - 3537

E-mail: potts@cme.nist.gov

This project is providing a coordinated and focused infrastructure of the emerging tools, technologies and growing electronic networks that have resulted from the information exchange revolution currently underway across the NII. These systems will enable American industry to have access to readily-available information bases containing up-to-date manufacturing research developments and practices and to facilitate information sharing and collaboration opportunities. To date, MITT's efforts have concentrated on building an infrastructure of available tools and servers for information dissemination and populating a manufacturing resource repository. In FY94 MITT efforts included the development of an on-line prototype suite of authoring, searching and retrieval tools and a core set of selected information bases on-line, that were identified in a needs analysis conducted in FY94. In the second year the project has focussed on teaming with other SIMA projects to apply these tools and services to improve communication and technology transfer of results to the manufacturing standards communities.

FY94 & 95 Accomplishments

Collaborations

TTTE5: Standard Reference Data Delivery and Use

 Phoebe Fagan

Telephone: (301) 975 - 2213

E-mail: phoebe.fagan@nist.gov

Project Manager: Gary Kramer

Telephone: (301) 975 - 4132

E-mail: gary.kramer@nist.gov

Project Manager: Gary Mallard

Telephone: (301) 975 - 2564

E-mail: gary.mallard@nist.gov

Project Manager: Edward Saloman

Telephone: (301) 975 - 5554

E-mail: edward.saloman@nist.gov

Critical decisions in manufacturing and engineering depend on reliable data. The NIST Standard Reference Data Program (SRDP) provides numeric data critically evaluated in data centers throughout the NIST laboratories. The thrust of this project is to make that data more readily available to engineers and scientists in U.S. industry. The breadth of the NIST data program and the diverse expectations of the industrial community require that NIST provide tools to help users find the data they need. Much of the NIST data is available today with responsive interfaces for individuals to use on their local computers. Project participants are creating ways to reuse the existing structures and algorithms, generating new algorithms where necessary, in order to deliver the existing and future NIST data, so that the data are both accessible on-line to individuals and freely exchangeable among instruments. SIMA efforts are taking place in two NIST laboratories, the Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory and the Physics Laboratory, with coordination and supporting activities performed by SRDP. The chemistry projects began in FY94. The physics lab began participating in FY95.

FY94 & 95 Accomplishments

Conclusion

 The SIMA Program is managed to ensure that the technical activities of the program address the requirements of U.S. industry, are appropriate to the mission of the NIST Laboratories, and are consistent with the overall HPCC/IITA goals. This report documents how those objectives are supported by the program's structure and the technical activities of the SIMA projects. NIST is satisfying HPCC/IITA goals through:

Future plans

 NIST's unique focus on working with industry to develop voluntary, consensus standards will be a key feature of SIMA projects as their technology developments mature. A significant challenge that industry representatives have identified to the program is that of decreasing the development time for standards formally sanctioned by national and international standards bodies. Given the rapid pace of technological change, and the commitment in time and money U.S. industry makes to voluntarily participate in the formal standards process, it is easy to understand the need for more rapid standardization.

In response to this need, in FY96 the SIMA Program will develop a structured process for technical projects to follow in their development of protocols for data exchange. These protocols, which will be known as Initial Manufacturing Exchange Specifications (IMES), will cover interfaces between manufacturing applications, interfaces between manufacturing applications and manufacturing data repositories, and interfaces between users and the applications themselves. The overall IMES development process will be a phased approach, with the expectation that the timeframe from start to finish would be 2 to 3 years. Phases for IMES development will include industry requirements analysis, specification development, prototype implementation and validation, and initiation of the standardization process. Industry participation throughout the IMES development process is expected to ensure that the IMES satisfies the intended needs with a viable solution. This formal IMES development process should ensure that the resulting specifications are high quality, industry-tested solutions ready for the voluntary standardization process.

References

  1. "High Performance Computing and Communications: Toward a National Information Infrastructure," Report by the Committee on Physical, Mathematical, and Engineering Sciences, Federal Coordinating Council for Science, Engineering, and Technology, Office of Science and Technology Policy, published by the National Coordination Office for HPCC, 1994.
  2. "Information Infrastructure Technology and Applications," Report of the IITA Task Group, High Performance Computing, Communications and Information Technology Subcommittee, Federal Coordinating Council for Science, Engineering, and Technology, Office of Science and Technology Policy, published by the National Coordination Office for HPCC, February 1994.
  3. "HPCC FY95 Implementation Plan," Office of Science and Technology Policy, published by the National Coordination Office for HPCC, April 1994.
  4. "Technical Program Description Systems Integration for Manufacturing," Bloom, H., NISTIR 5476, NIST, Gaithersburg, MD, July 1994.
  5. ISO 10303-1, "Industrial automation systems and integration - Product data representation and exchange - Part 1: Overview and fundamental principles," International Organization for Standardization, Geneva, Switzerland.
  6. "Systems Integration Needs of U.S. Manufacturers, Conference Report," Stewart, S. and Pinholster, G., Journal of Research of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Vol. 99, No. 5, October 1994.
  7. "The NIST SIMA Interactive Management Workshop," Johnson, C., et al., NISTIR 5717, NIST, Gaithersburg, MD, September 1995.
  8. "Background Study - Requisite Elements, Rationale, and Technology Overview for the Systems Integration for Manufacturing Applications (SIMA) Program," Barkmeyer, E., et al., NISTIR 5662, NIST, Gaithersburg, MD, September 1995.

Appendix A: Collaborators

Consortia, National Programs, and Trade Associations

Name

Location

Description

Collaborating Project
American Institute of Steel Construction

 Chicago, IL

 The American Institute of Steel Construction is a non-profit trade organization that represents the fabricated steel industry of the United States. The Institute's objectives are to improve and advance the use of fabricated structural steel through research and engineering studies to develop the most efficient and economical design of structures. It also conducts programs to improve product quality.

 Process Plant Engineering and Construction (p. 18).

Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG)

 Detroit, MI

 The AIAG is an automotive trade association to address industry issues in supply, manufacturing, engineering, quality, and finance. The association has over 1000 member companies and includes Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors.

 STEP Implementations (p. 31).

Construction Industry Institute

 Austin, TX

 The CII is a national industry organization focussing on development of industry standards and voluntary recommended practices for design and construction of manufacturing facilities. Members include Amoco, ARCO, Bechtel, Chevron, Monsanto, and others.

 STEP for the Process Plant Industries (p. 23).

Footwear Industries of America (FIA)

 Washington, DC

 The FIA is a trade association working to make the American footwear industry more competitive in the global market and to serve as an information resource for the industry. It has over 150 members including most of the large shoe manufacturers and suppliers to the industry.

 Virtual Enterprise Frameworks for Small Manufacturers (p. 24).

Industry Alliance for Interoperability (IAI)

 N/A

 The IAI is an architectural, engineering, and construction (AEC) industrial association formed to develop and maintain the Industry Foundation Classes specification which provides customizable objects that encapsulate information about building elements as well as design, construction, and management objects. IAI members include AEC/CAD vendors, AEC/CAD users, and government agencies.

 AMSANT for Process Plant Industries (p. 33).

National Industrial Information Infrastructure Protocols (NIIIP)

 Stamford, CT

 The NIIIP consortium's objective is to develop open industry software protocols that will make it possible for manufacturers and their suppliers to effectively interoperate as if they were part of the same enterprise. The consortium includes IBM, Digital Equipment Corporation, Enterprise Integration Technologies, General Dynamics, Lockheed Aeronautical Systems, Magnavox, Texas Instruments, and other participants.

 Integration Mechanisms (p. 13).

Reference Model Architecture (p. 21).

NSF/NCSA World-Wide Web Federal Consortium

 Urbana, IL

 The NSF/NCSA WWW Federal Consortium works to advance member agency goals by supporting continued development of NCSA Mosaic and related technology through funding agreements between the agencies and NSF, and to foster collaborative research and development and the exchange of information between NCSA and member agencies, and among member agencies.

 Manufacturing Information Technology Transfer (p. 35).

Next Generation Inspection System Program

 Ann Arbor, MI

 NGIS is a program of the National Center for Manufacturing Sciences, Production Equipment and Systems Special Interest Group. The objective is to develop next generation inspection capabilities on coordinate measuring machines and machine tools.

 Reference Model Architecture (p. 21).

PDES, Inc.

 Charleston, SC

 The PDES, Inc. consortium's objective is to accelerate the development and implementation of STEP. The consortium includes the South Carolina Research Authority, Boeing, Ford, General Motors, Hughes, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and other participants.

 STEP Conformance Testing (p. 29).

STEP Implementations (p. 31).

Process Data eXchange Institute of AIChE (pdXi)

 New York, NY

 pDXI is an industry trade group working to develop and maintain open approaches to electronic data exchange and management of process engineering data. Members include DuPont, Exxon, and Simulation Sciences, Union Carbide, and others.

 STEP for the Process Plant Industries (p. 23).

Pedorthic Footwear Association (PFA)

 Columbia, MD

 The PFA represents both retail and manufacturing segments of the pedorthic profession. Members share interest in pedorthic management of the foot from practice and treatment to education and research.

 Virtual Enterprise Frameworks for Small Manufacturers (p. 24).

PlantSTEP, Inc.

 Wilmington, DE

 PlantSTEP, Inc. is a consortium working to support the development of information exchange standards to advance the capabilities of process plant and construction industries. Members include DuPont, Merck, Black & Veach, Bechtel, Intergraph, Computervision, and CAD Centre.

 STEP for the Process Plant Industries (p. 23).

AMSANT for Process Plant Industries (p. 33).

Rapid Response Manufacturing

 Ann Arbor, MI

 The RRM consortium's objective is to increase first product quality while decreasing design to manufacturing cycle time. The RRM consortium includes the National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS), General Motors, Ford Motor, Texas Instruments, United Technologies, Lockheed Martin Energy Systems, and other participants.

 Modeling of Manufacturing Resource (MR) Information (p. 14).

SEMATECH

 Austin, TX

 The SEMATECH consortium's objective is to sponsor and conduct research aimed at assuring leadership in semiconductor manufacturing technology for the U.S. semiconductor industry. The consortium includes Advanced Micro Devices, Digital Equipment Corporation, Hewlett-Packard, Intel, IBM, Lucent Technologies, Motorola, National Semiconductor Corporation, Rockwell International, and Texas Instruments.

 Electronic Commerce for the Electronics Industry (ECCI) (p. 12).

Integration Mechanisms (p. 13).

Analysis Tools for Assessment and Optimization of Process and Product Design (p. 34).

Technologies Enabling Agile Manufacturing (TEAM)

 Oak Ridge, TN

 The TEAM consortium's objective is to enhance national industrial competitiveness by advancing and deploying manufacturing technologies that promote agility. The consortium includes American firms and consortia representing many industrial sectors including aerospace, automotive, consumer electronics, and software along with multiple federal agencies and facilities.

 Integration Mechanisms (p. 13).

Modeling of Manufacturing Resource (MR) Information (p. 14).

Process Planning Applications (p. 17).

Reference Model Architecture (p. 21).

U.S. Chemical Industry Technology and Manufacturing Competitiveness Task Group

 N/A

 The TMCTG is a task group consisting of more than 200 technical leaders from the chemical industry formed under the auspices of several professional societies and trade groups. The task group's goal is to identify factors affecting the competitiveness of the industry, identify technical needs, and make recommendations for cooperative efforts.

 STEP for the Process Plant Industries (p. 23).

West Virginia High Technology Consortium

 W. VA

 The WVHTC is a non-profit organization dedicated to growing information-technology companies in the Mountain State. The foundation is a research and educational corporation dedicated to accelerating the state's economic growth through research, development, and education.

 Operator Interfaces for Virtual and Distributed Manufacturing (p. 16).

Individual Companies

Name

Location

Description

Collaborating Project
Advanced Databases, Inc.

 Redwood Shores, CA

 Vendor of the MATISSE object-oriented databases.

 Process Planning Applications (p. 17).

Advanced Technology and Research Corporation

 Burtonsville, MD

 Consultants specializing in research and development of intelligent control systems, automation, robotics, simulation, engineering analysis, and computer science.

 Operator Interfaces for Virtual and Distributed Manufacturing (p. 16).

Reference Model Architecture (p. 21).

Allied-Signal Aerospace

 Kansas City, MO

 The Kansas City Division of Allied-Signal Aerospace is a Department of Energy contractor producing electrical and mechanical components for weapon systems.

 Modeling of Manufacturing Resource (MR) Information (p. 14).

AMP, Incorporated

 Harrisburg, PA

 Manufacturer of electronic connectors.

 Production Applications (p. 19).

AutoSimulation, Incorporated

 Bountiful, UT

 Vendor of simulation and scheduling software.

 Production Applications (p. 19).

Bernier and Associates, Inc.

 Topsfield, MA

 Software consultants specializing in data collection and analysis

 Application Protocol Development Environment (APDE) (p. 27).

Black and Decker

 Towson, MD

 Manufacturer of portable power tools and household appliances.

 Design Applications (p. 11).

Production Applications (p. 19).

Virtual Reality for Manufacturing (p. 26).

Boeing Commercial Airplane Group

 Seattle, WA

 Manufacturer of commercial airplanes.

 STEP Conformance Testing (p. 29).

Caterpillar

 Peoria, IL

 Manufacturer of earth-moving equipment.

 Design Applications (p. 11).

Cimplex Corporation

 San Jose, CA

 Vendor of computer-aided manufacturing software.

 Process Planning Applications (p. 17).

CIM Technologies

 Ames, IA

 Vendor of plant layout software.

 Production Applications (p. 19).

Concurrent Technologies Corporation

 Johnstown, PA

 A non-profit company chartered to take technology from research labs to the commercial workplace.

 Application Protocol Development Environment (APDE) (p. 27).

DiK Corporation

 Darmstadt, Germany

 A university-based corporation specializing in automotive design and analysis.

 Application Protocol Development Environment (APDE) (p. 27).

DLOG Corporation

 Chicago, IL

 Vendor of shop floor data collection software.

 Production Applications (p. 19).

Framework Technologies

 Milwaukee, WI

 Vendor of production simulation software.

 Production Applications (p. 19).

Industrial Technology Institute

 Ann Arbor, MI

 Provider of services and applied research supporting manufacturers.

 STEP Conformance Testing (p. 29).

STEP Implementations (p. 31).

Institute of Advanced Manufacturing Sciences (IAMS)

 Cincinnati, OH

 Vendor of computer-aided process planning software.

 Modeling of Manufacturing Resource (MR) Information (p. 14).

Process Planning Applications (p. 17).

International Technegroup, Inc.

 Milford, OH

 Vendor of computer-aided process planning software.

 Process Planning Applications (p. 17).

Isothermal Systems Research, Inc.

 Colton, WA

 Developer of thermal management systems for electronic systems.

 Design Applications (p. 11).

Litton AMECOM

 College Park, MD

 Software developers specializing in manufacturing applications.

 Production Applications (p. 19).

McDonnell-Douglas

 St. Louis, MO

 Manufacturer of aerospace products.

 Production Applications (p. 19).

Perceptronics

 Woodland Hills, CA

 Vendor of engineering process modeling software and technology.

 Design Applications (p. 11).

Pritsker Corporation

 West Lafayette, IN

 Vendor of simulation and scheduling software.

 Production Applications (p. 19).

Sandvik Coromant

 Fair Lawn, NJ

 Manufacturer of cutting tools and accessories.

 Modeling of Manufacturing Resource (MR) Information (p. 14).

SGS Tool Company

 Munroe Falls, OH

 Manufacturer of solid carbide cutting tools.

 Modeling of Manufacturing Resource (MR) Information (p. 14).

SoftQuad, Inc.

 Toronto, Canada

 Vendor of Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML) software tools.

 Application Protocol Development Environment (APDE) (p. 27).

Texas Instruments Defense Systems Electronics Group

 Dallas, TX

 Manufacturer of electronic components and systems.

 Modeling of Manufacturing Resource (MR) Information (p. 14).

Viewlogic Systems Incorporated

 Marlborough, MA

 Vendor of electronic product design and engineering software.

 Electronic Commerce for the Electronics Industry (ECCI) (p. 12).

Government Agencies

Name

Location

Description

Collaborating Project
Army Research Institute

 Alexandria, VA

 ARI conducts basic, exploratory, and advanced research and engineering development to increase readiness and effectiveness of Army personnel.

 Virtual Reality for Manufacturing (p. 26).

Sandia National Laboratory

 Albuquerque, NM

 A multi-program national laboratory under the Department of Energy with objectives in national defense, energy security, environmental integrity, and economic security.

 Advanced Manufacturing Systems and Networking Testbed (p. 32).

U.S. Army Tank Automotive Command (TACOM)

 Warren, MI

 TACOM works to shorten lead-times and improve quality for military vehicle manufacturing.

 STEP Implementations (p. 31).

Academic Institutions

Name

Location

Department

Collaborating Project
Carnegie Mellon University

 Pittsburgh, PA

 Software Engineering Institute (A federally funded research and development center operated by CMU to provide leadership in software engineering and in the transition of new software engineering technology into practice.)

 Integration Mechanisms (p. 13).

Catholic University

 Washington, DC

 Department of Mechanical Engineering

 Reference Model Architecture (p. 21).

Drexel University

 Philadelphia, PA

 Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

 Reference Model Architecture (p. 21).

Florida State University

 Tallahassee, FL

 Department of Industrial Engineering

 Process Planning Applications (p. 17).

George Washington University

 Washington, DC

 Department of Engineering Management

 Design Applications (p. 11).

Montgomery Blair High School

 Silver Spring, MD

 Science, Mathematics, Computer Science Magnet Program

 Manufacturing Information Technology Transfer (p. 35).

Ohio University

 Athens, OH

 Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering

 Production Applications (p. 19).

Purdue University

 West Lafayette, IN

 Department of Industrial Engineering

 Production Applications (p. 19).

San Francisco State University

 San Francisco, CA

 School of Humanities

 Operator Interfaces for Virtual and Distributed Manufacturing (p. 16).

University of Illinois

 Chicago, IL

 Department of Computer Science

 Operator Interfaces for Virtual and Distributed Manufacturing (p. 16).

University of Missouri-Rolla

 Rolla, Mo.

 Department of Chemical Engineering

 STEP for the Process Plant Industries (p. 23).

Washington State University

 Pullman, WA

 School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering

 Design Applications (p. 11).

Standards Committees

Committee

Organization

Description

Collaborating Project
IEC/TC93/WG5

 International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)

 The role of IEC/TC93/WG5 is to define methodologies and/or guidelines for the conformance and certification testing of any product which implements a TC93 standard. Its goal is to gather consensus among the member countries as to the acceptance procedures used for conformance and certification testing of products.

 Electronic Commerce for the Electronics Industry (ECCI) (p. 12).

TC29/WG34

 International Organization for Standardization (ISO)

 To develop standard digital representations for "computerized machining data exchange" of cutting tool information.

 Modeling of Manufacturing Resource (MR) Information (p. 14).

TC184/SC4/WG3/ Ad Hoc Committee on Parametrics

 International Organization for Standardization (ISO)

 The role of the Parametrics Committee is to determine the need for parametric representations in STEP and related standards, and propose how techniques and models may be changed to meet those needs.

 Reference Model Architecture (p. 21).

TC184/SC4/WG3/T7

 International Organization for Standardization (ISO)

 The role of the Mechanical Product Definition Committee is to analyze, document, and model information and data about mechanical products.

 Reference Model Architecture (p. 21).

TC184/SC4/WG3/T11

 International Organization for Standardization (ISO)

 The role of the Process Plant AP Planning Project is to identify and define the information necessary to manufacture or facilitate the manufacture of a component.

 Reference Model Architecture (p. 21).

TC184/SC4/WG3/T12

 International Organization for Standardization (ISO)

 The role of the Manufacturing Technology Committee is to work with industry to define the scope and coordinate the development of application protocols for the process plant industries.

 STEP for the Process Plant Industries (p. 23).

STEP

 International Society of Measurement and Control (ISA)

 To develop standards and recommended practices for the measurement, instrumentation, and control industry.

 STEP for the Process Plant Industries (p. 23).

Appendix B: FY94 and FY95 Project Publications

MSE1: Design Applications, (p. 11)

  1. Lyons, K., and Duffy, M. R., "Requirements, Methods and Research Issues for Modeling the Product Realization Process," in IFIP - Working Group 5.7, Reengineering the Enterprise Workshop Proceedings, Galway, Ireland, April 1995.
  2. Lyons, K., and Duffy, M., "Modeling The Product Realization Process: Requirements, Method and Research Issues for Computer Support Tools," in FAIM 95 (Flexible Automation and Intelligent Manufacturing) Conference Proceedings, Stuttgart, Germany, June 1995.
  3. Lyons, K., Duffy, M.R., Anderson, R. C., "Product Realization Process Modeling: A Study of Requirements, Methods and Research Issues," NISTIR 5745, NIST, Gaithersburg, MD, June 1995.
  4. Lyons, K., "Collaborative Design for Assembly of Complex Electro-mechanical Products," in National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS) Manufacturing Technology Conference Proceedings, Orlando, FL, May 1995.
  5. Lyons, K., Connacher, H., Jayman, S., "Virtual Assembly Design Environment," in the 15th ASME International Computers in Engineering (CIE95) Conference Proceedings, Boston, MA, September 1995.
  6. Pratt, M., "IFIP WG5.10 Conference: Virtual Prototypes and Product Models in Mechanical Engineering," NISTIR 5650, NIST, Gaithersburg, MD, May 1995.

MSE2: Electronic Commerce for the Electronics Industry (ECCI), (p. 12)

  1. Stewart. S.L., St. Pierre, James A., "Roadmap for the Computer Integrated Manufacturing Application Framework," NISTIR 5679, NIST, Gaithersburg, MD, June 1995.
  2. Stewart. S.L., St. Pierre, James A., "Roadmap for the Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) Application Framework," Technology Transfer #95052825A-ENG, SEMATECH, Austin, TX, May 1995.

MSE4: Modeling of Manufacturing Resource (MR) Information, (p. 14)

  1. Algeo, M., Feng, S., and Ray, S., "A State-of-the-Art Survey on Product Design and Process Planning Integration Mechanisms," NISTIR 5548, NIST, Gaithersburg, MD, December 1994.
  2. Algeo, M., "A State-of-the-Art Survey of Methodologies for Representing Manufacturing Process Capabilities," NISTIR 5391, NIST, Gaithersburg, MD, March 1994.
  3. Fowler, J., "Variant Design for Mechanical Artifacts - A State of the Art Survey," NISTIR 5356, NIST, Gaithersburg, MD, February 1994.
  4. Jurrens K., "An Assessment of the State-of-the-Art in Rapid Prototyping Systems for Mechanical Parts, Final Report," NISTIR 5335, NIST, Gaithersburg, MD, December 1993.
  5. Jurrens, K., Fowler, J., and Algeo, M., "Modeling of Manufacturing Resource Information, Requirements Specification," NISTIR 5707, NIST, Gaithersburg, MD, July 1995.
  6. Moncarz, H., "Visualization Applications for Manufacturing: A State-of-the-Art Survey, Final Report," NISTIR 5427, NIST, Gaithersburg, MD, May 1994.
  7. Ressler, S., "Applying Virtual Environments to Manufacturing," NISTIR 5343, NIST, Gaithersburg, MD, January 1994.

MSE5: Operator Interfaces for Virtual and Distributed Manufacturing, (p. 16)

  1. Kent, E., "Final Report: A Workshop on the Application of Virtual Reality to Manufacturing," NISTIR 5543, NIST, Gaithersburg, MD, December 1995.

MSE6: Process Planning Applications, (p. 17)

  1. Feng, S., Yang, Y., "A Dimension and Tolerance Data Model for Concurrent Design and Systems Integration," SME Journal of Manufacturing, May 95.
  2. Pratt, M., "Towards Optimality in Automated Feature Recognition," Computing, 10 (Supplement), pp. 253-174. Geometric Modelling - Dagstuhl 1993, G. Farin, H. Hagen & H. Noltemeir, ed., Springer-Verlag, 1995.
  3. Ray, S., Wang, eds., "Special Issue on Computer-Aided Process Planning," Journal of Systems Engineering, Vol. 5, No. 1, 1995.
  4. Regli, W., "Automated Manufacturability Analysis: A Survey," NISTIR 5713, NIST, Gaithersburg, MD, September 1995.
  5. Subrahmanyam, S., DeVries, W., and Pratt, M.J., "Feature Attributes and their Role in Product Modeling," in Proc. 3rd ACM Symposium on Solid Modeling and applications, Salt Lake City, UT, May 1995.

MSE8: Production Applications, (p. 19)

  1. Jones, A., Rabelo, Yih, Y., "A Hybrid Approach for Real-time Sequencing and Scheduling," International Journal of Computer Integrated Manufacturing, Vol. 8, No. 2, pp. 145-155, March/April 1995.
  2. Jones, A., Sun,Y., Yih, Y., "A Neural Network Based Cell Controller for Automated Manufacturing Cells," NISTIR 5718, NIST, Gaithersburg, MD, September 1995.
  3. McLean, C., and Leong, S., "A Process Model for Production System Engineering" in Proc. IFIP WG 5.7, September 1995.

MSE9: Reference Model Architecture, (p. 21)

  1. Albus, J., Meystel, A., "A Reference Model Architecture for Design and Implementation of Semiotic Control in Large and Complex Systems," in Proc. of Workshop at 10th IEEE Int'l Conf. on Intelligent Control, Monterey, CA, 1995.
  2. Huang, H., "Outline of a Multiple Dimensional Reference Model Architecture and a Knowledge Engineering Methodology for Intelligent System Control," NISTIR 5643, NIST, Gaithersburg, MD, April 1995.
  3. Kramer, T., Senehi, K., "Feasibility Study: Reference Architecture for Machine Control Systems Integration," NISTIR 5297, NIST, Gaithersburg, MD, November 1993.
  4. Senehi, M.K., Kramer, T.R., Michaloski, J., Quintero, R., Ray, S.R., Rippey, W.G., and Wallace, S., "Reference Architecture for Machine Control Systems Integration: Interim Report," NISTIR 5517, NIST, Gaithersburg, MD, October 1994.

MSE10: STEP for the Process Plant Industries, (p. 23)

  1. "Group 1 for the Plant Spatial Configuration STEP Applications Protocol," NISTIR 5675, NIST, Gaithersburg, MD, July 1995.

MSE11: Virtual Enterprise Frameworks for Small Manufacturers, (p. 24)

  1. Moncarz, H., "Program Requirements to Advance the Technology of Custom Footwear Manufacturing," NISTIR 5521, NIST, Gaithersburg, MD, October 1994.
  2. Moncarz, H., "Information Technologies Make Business Sense for the Custom Therapeutic Footwear Industry," NISTIR 5673, NIST, Gaithersburg, MD, June 1995.

SDE1: Application Protocol Development Environment (APDE), (p. 27)

  1. Phillips, L., Lubell, J., "An SGML Environment for STEP," NISTIR 5515, NIST, Gaithersburg, MD, June 1994.
  2. Sauder, D., Mitchell, M., Barnard, A., "Challenges to the National Information Infrastructure: The Barriers to Product Data Sharing," NISTIR 5498, NIST, Gaithersburg, MD, September 1994.

SDE2: STEP Conformance Testing, (p. 29)

  1. Mitchell, M., "Initial NIST Testing Policy for STEP - Beta Testing Program for AP 203 Implementation," NISTIR 5535, NIST, Gaithersburg, MD, November 1994.

TTTE4: Manufacturing Information Technology Transfer, (p. 35)

  1. Potts, M., "The MITT Project Electronic Library: An Implementation Description," NISTIR 5656, NIST, Gaithersburg, MD, April 1995.
  2. Schlenoff, C., "World-Wide Web and Mosaic: User's Guide," NISTIR 5453, NIST, Gaithersburg, MD, June 1994.

Appendix C: Program Products Available

Standard Reference Databases3

  1. The 1986 CODATA Recommended Values of the Fundamental Physical Constants, by E.Richard Cohen and Barry N. Taylor: Values of the basic constants and conversion factors of physics and chemistry resulting from the 1986 least-squares adjustment of the fundamental physical constants as published by the CODATA Task Group on Fundamental Constants and recommended for international use by CODATA.

  2. Recent and Current Program of the NIST Atomic Data Centers, by W. L. Wiese and W. C.Martin. Critically evaluated data and bibliographies on atomic spectra --energy levels, wavelengths, transition probabilities, and line shapes.

  3. Bibliographic Database on Atomic Transition Probabilities, by J. R. Fuhr and H. R. Felrice. An interactive database with references on atomic transition probabilities (oscillator strengths, line strengths, and radiative lifetimes). Both theoretical and experimental papers are listed.

  4. Atomic Spectroscopic Database, by A. Musgrove, G. R. Dalton, W. C. Martin, E. B. Saloman (NIST), and C. Stern Grant and G. Eichhorn (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics). Includes most of the existing critically evaluated NIST data on atomic energy levels, transition probabilities, and wavelengths that are reasonably up-to-date. This interactive database has energy level data for over 500 spectra, transition probabilities for Sc through Ni, and wavelength data for spectra of several elements.

  5. Atlas of the Spectrum of a Platinum/Neon Hollow-Cathode Reference Lamp in the Region 1130-4330, by J. E. Sansonetti, J. Reader, C. J. Sansonetti, and N. Acquista. An atlas of the spectrum is given, with the spectral lines marked and their intensities, wavelengths, and classifications listed. Graphical figures of the spectrum are included.

  6. Wavenumber Calibration Tables From Heterodyne Frequency Measurements, by Arthur G. Maki and Joseph S. Wells. An atlas of molecular spectra and associated tables of wavenumbers for the calibration of infrared spectrometers.

Appendix D: AMSANT Software Systems Available

 The following software applications are installed in the AMSANT facility. These packages are used by SIMA researchers and their collaborators.

Computer aided design / computer aided engineering / computer aided manufacturing Software

Integration Software

Simulation Software
AutoCAD

 Design IDEF

 ARENA

Bentley Microstation Modeler

 FirstSTEP XG

 AutoMOD

Cimplex Manufacturing Analyst & NC Verify

 Matrix Product Data Manager

 AutoSched

Cognition Mechanical Advantage & Cost Advantage

 ObjectStore OODBMS

 Deneb QUEST, IGRIP, and VNC

IAMS MetCAPP

 Orbix Object Request Broker

 Pritsker (FACTOR)

ICEM/Part

 SEMATECH CIM Framework

InterCIM

 STEP Tools, Inc. EXPRESS Toolkit

Multi-CAPP

Parametric Technology Corp. Pro/Engineer, Pro/Manufacture, and Mechanica

SDRC I-DEAS

SmartCAM Free Form Machining


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2
More information about NIST Laboratories can be found at http://www.nist.gov/labs2.html.
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Information on obtaining and accessing these databases can be found at http://www.nist.gov/srd/.
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