AERONAUTICS FIRM GETS IN STEP WITH STREAMLINED DATA EXCHANGE.

STEP (also known as ISO 10303), the global Standard for the Exchange of Product model data, got another rousing endorsement from an industry leader when it initiated full production use of the standard for technical data exchange with its suppliers.

Traditionally, the individual manually transmitted large volumes of engineering data via hard-copy bid packages to potential suppliers. Data often had to be interpreted and re-entered into different systems, resulting in time delays and errors. Using STEP, data can be quickly and accurately sent electronically to first-tier suppliers and, if needed, retransmitted to lower-tier suppliers. What once took weeks is now accomplished in a matter of minutes.

From the definition of IGES (the Initial Graphics Exchange Specification) through the current STEP standard, NIST has been a leader in the quest to create a universal, unambiguous language for exchanging product information. From 1984 until 1998, NIST also served as the secretariat for the International Organization for Standardization (known as ISO) Subcommittee on Industrial Data. NIST still participates in STEP's evolution and implementation by developing testing methodologies for and making technical contributions to ISO 10303 as applied to different industries.