The emerging STEP standard for product-model data exchange

The International Organization for Standardization's (ISO's) standard for the exchange of product-model data (STEP) is discussed. The goal of this standard, officially named ISO 10303, is to facilitate the computer-readable exchange of the total information used to define an industrial product. As a standard method for digital product definition. STEP will support communications among heterogeneous computer environments. The standard will make it easier to integrate systems that perform various product life-cycle functions, such as design, manufacturing, and logistics support, and will help facilitate concurrent engineering. The current electronic domain standards are reviewed. The ways in which STEP differs from them are outlined