Title: User friendly development architecture for standardised modelling: STEP toolbox

Authors: Yujiang Li; Danfang Chen; Torsten J.A. Kjellberg; Gunilla Sivard

Addresses: Department of Production Engineering, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Brinellvägen 68, Stockholm, Sweden ' Department of Production Engineering, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Brinellvägen 68, Stockholm, Sweden ' Department of Production Engineering, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Brinellvägen 68, Stockholm, Sweden ' Department of Production Engineering, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Brinellvägen 68, Stockholm, Sweden

Abstract: Standardised information modelling is currently an important solution of enhancing the interoperability of computer-aided technology (CAx) systems in the manufacturing industry. The success of this solution is critically dependent on the complexity of data structure and implementation methodology. This study presents development architecture, STEP toolbox, which enables users to implement information standards via a simplified process with minimised knowledge requirements. This study starts with an analysis of relevant user groups for different types of tasks and knowledge requirements. Then STEP toolbox is presented as the simplified development architecture that consists of conceptual modelling and an object-oriented application programming interface (API). It is more convenient for typical developers than the conventional implementation methodology. Based on results from test cases for implementing three prototypes, a two-month learning process required for average developers of the information standards is expected to be eliminated. [Received 22 April 2013; Revised 5 December 2013; Accepted 11 February 2014]

Keywords: information standards; interoperability; application programming interface; conceptual modelling; object-oriented API; computer-aided technology; CAx; user groups; development architecture; STEP; information modelling; manufacturing industry.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMR.2014.066663

International Journal of Manufacturing Research, 2014 Vol.9 No.4, pp.429 - 447

Published online: 11 Jan 2015 *

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