3 The Future Systems Engineering Data Exchange Standard STEP AP-233: Sharing the results of the SEDRES Project

Sharing design information during the systems engineering activities on large international projects within virtual enterprises faces many challenges, amongst them is working with heterogeneous sets of systems engineering tools. The adoption of neutral data exchange standards is one appropriate approach now well advanced in areas such as structural design (Computer Aided Design or CAD). ESPRIT project 20496, ‘SEDRES’, has made significant progress in producing a neutral data exchange standard based on STEP (ISO-10303), embracing systems engineering design data. SEDRES stands for Systems Engineering Data Representation and Exchange Standardisation. Co-funded by the European Commission and running 1996–1999, SEDRES was initiated by Aerospatiale, Alenia, British Aerospace, DASA and Saab. Also contributing are the Universities of Loughborough, Linkoping, and the Australian Centre for Test & Evaluation. This paper reports on the development and prototyping of the Capability/2 data model, on early exchange experiences, and on the related ISO STEP AP-233 standardisation activity. Two companion papers describe the data model content and data exchange evaluation in detail.