CALS Report Vol. 5 No. 1, January 1992
CSC Chosen in JCALS Downselect
Computer Sciences, Corp.'s (CSC's), Integrated Systems Division has
been
chosen as the final developer and supplier for the highly valued Joint
CALS
system development contract. DoD put the total potential value of the
JCALS
contract at $744 million, over 12 years, if the government exercises
all of
its options. The system will link 245 military sites across the US
using
computers, local area networks, and terminals connected through a wide
area
network. JCALS has been ordered to incorporate the objectives of the
recently
canceled JUSTIS (Joint Uniform Services Technical Information System)
program,
valued at about $600 million. CSC will subcontract portions of the
project to
General Research Corp., McLean, VA; Systems Research and Applications
Corp.,
Arlington, VA; Management Action Corp., Manassas, VA; NCI Information
Systems,
Arlington, VA; and InfoDesign Corp., Alexandria, VA. Other Vendors
Supplying
various products and services include Digital Equipment Corp., Maynard,
MA; ArborText, Ann Arbor, MI; Datalogics, Chicago, IL, and Sybase Inc.,
Emeryville, CA .
-----
CITIS Supported by DoD Despite Harsh Criticism
CITIS (Contractor Integrated Technical Information Services) has been
endorsed
for further development as a CALS specification, despite strong criticism
from
contractors and professional associations. The CITIS specification
describes a
service provided by the contractor to the Government, in this case,
certain
levels of on-line access to data created by contracted work and already
identified as a deliverable. Although no critic objected in principle
to on-
line access to the data, the feasibility of providing large scale,
power-user
access to data on live projects makes most contractors a bit squeamish.
In
addition, the precise wording of several parts of the draft CITIS
specification tended to proscribe technology solutions, rather than
characterizing services, a chilling thought to contractors who have
invested
millions in proprietary information management systems. In several
reviews of
the specification, contractors asked DoD to delay use of the CITIS
specification, pending extensive or total rewriting. Responding at
CALS Expo,
Marianne Pietras, indicated CITIS would remain on track but corrections
would
be made.
--------------
CIM Advocating Activity Modeling to Get "Bill of Activities"
The DoD Corporate Information Management (CIM) is forcing the re-engineering
of business processes using activity modeling and costing, according
to Mike
Yoemans, Department of the Army. A typical result of a business
activity
model is a "Bill of Activities" which summarizes to resources consumed
by
specific activities during a certain time frame. "We have to save $33
Billion
between 1991-1997 from process change," Yoemans said. "What most people
don't
understand is that the money is already gone." Yoemans outlined a CIM
Business
Re-Engineering Process Model in which functional modeling plays a key
role and
illustrated the concept with a case history from the Army Corps of
Engineers.
Yeoman made his comments at the IDEF Users Group Forum at Fort Worth,
TX in
October.
------
CALS Test Network Operations (CTNO) Testbed Points of Contact
-------
White Paper Proposes Data Classification Methodology for CALS Legacy Data
A white paper has been prepared proposing a data object classification
method
and illustrates its use with legacy data. The paper was prepared by
the Data
Classification Methodology Team of the CALS Industry Steering Group
(ISG)
Information Integration Working Group (IIWG) and was presented at CALS
EXPO
91. The team members from the Army CALS Program Management Office
(PMO),
Analytical Systems, Engineering Corp., Raytheon, Texas Instruments,
TRW,
Motorola, and Martin Marietta jointly contributing to the paper entitled
"Data
Classification - A Step Toward Information Integration." Chaired by
Mr. Ronald
Schuldt, Martin Marietta Astronautics Group, the team has been seeking
a way
to standardize data definitions for use across enterprise and organization
boundaries, while accommodating legacy data definitions, resolve collisions
for new items, and help to locate data among a large pool of data definitions.
------
Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) Activities
Courtesy of NIST/NTIS
A Government Network Management Profile (GNMP) FIPS was proposed in
a July 31,
1991, Federal Register announcement, for federal agency use.
A FIPS for Digital Signature Standard (DSS) was proposed in a announcement
in
the Federal Register of August 30, 1991.
A FIPS for Initial Graphics Exchange Specification (IGES) was proposed
in a
Federal Register notice of October 3, 1991 and requested comments from
government, industry, and the public.
-----
Standards Briefs
The Action Plan for the Joint Technical Coordinating Group (JTCG) for
Flexible
Computer Integrated Manufacturing (FCIM) was approved by the Joint
Logistics
Commanders (JLC's).
Development of a new standard for MANufacturing DATa Exchange (MANDATE)
was
approved by ISO for ISO/TC184/SC4/WG8, says the RAMP Project Office,
and is to
be compatible with ISO 10303 (STEP).
Amendment 1 to MIL-M-28001A, correcting SGML coding errors found in
the MIL-M-
38784B DTD and the Template DTD, is available to download from the
CALS BBS.
A CALS Shared Resource Center (CSRC) program is underway at the National
Center for Excellence in Metalworking Technology (NCMET).
A new 25-page report, NIST Support of the CALS Program: 1990 Synopsis,
(NISTIR
4609) summaries overall CALS program management, technical support,
and
administration provided by NIST to the Department of Defense.
A new video describing the CALS program has been produced by NIST, in
cooperation with DOD.
NIST has begun operating an online database developed for the U.S. GOSIP
(Government Open Systems Interconnection Profile) Register Database.
AECMA standards and guides are available from BDC Technical Services, Ltd..
------------
Products and Services News
Dazix signed marketing agreements with AT&T, Logic Modeling and Synopsis.
Xyvision has integrated Interleaf's TPS into its Composition & Document
Management environment.
NASA has announced Version 2.0 of COMPASS, a project planning and management
tool.
Pacific Numerix announced PCB Explorer, which helps place components
relative
to thermal or fatigue requirements.
Stratus is the first fault-tolerant vendor to receive the OSF XPG3 Brand.
GE Information Services (GEIS) has announced extension of their X.400
interconnection agreements with major organizations in most European
countries.
HP and Point Control will jointly market HP ME10 and ME30 CAD and PC's
SmartCAM software products.
Prototype Optical Storage Devices for the Patriot Missile will be developed
by
Cherokee Data Systems, Inc.
Northern Telecom has assumed all sales, marketing, and support for Teleprint's
IDDS and I.D. Navigator products, previously done by TDD, Inc., a division
of
Teleprint.
Metrum introduced an enhanced digital tape mass storage drive, formerly
Honeywell Test Instruments Division.
A family of CALS software modules is available from Interlinear Technology,
Inc.
CALSView is a new viewing station software package from Performance Plus.
Exoterica Corp. demonstrated a prototype FOSI converter at CALS EXPO.
FrameReader, a low cost online view product for the Macintosh, was announced
by Frame Technology.
Control Data has ported it's ICEM distributed DB product to IBM's RS/6000
and
HP's 9000 Series 700.
Auto-trol announced a new, low-cost, X-Windows document view/review
product
called PowerView.
TechWare, Inc. announced SystemVision, a WYSIWYG personal information
management system for scientists and engineers.
A heads-up display and voice activated commands leaves hands free for
work,
says Electro-Tech International Corporation about their POMA system.
-----
Letter to the Editor
================================================================================
CALS Report Vol. 5 No. 2, February 1992
EDMS (Joint-EDMICS) will Maximize ROI in Transition to New Technology
EDMS (Engineering Data Management System), which is the new Joint EDMICS
(Engineering Data Management Information and Control System) will try
to
maximize the return on investment already made in capturing drawings
and
training users, while benefiting from the new technologies now baselined.
EDMS is headed by David Kyle, US Naval Supply Command (NAVSUP) - 55.
EDMICS'
prime contractor is PRC, Inc., with subcontractors SUN Microsystems,
ORACLE,
Microsoft, Eastman Kodak, and 30 additional vendors.
-----
ANALYSIS: UK's De Facto CALS Policy Emphasizes Internal Flexibility
in
Competing Consortia
by Peter C. Lally, Consultant
At a colloquium organized by the Institution of Electrical Engineers
at their
office in London in January 1992, the emerging de facto policy of the
UK
Ministry of Defence (MOD) was reiterated. This policy is a hands off
bottom up
approach based on competing consortia using standards for their own
internal
efficiency. MOD made clear it does not intend to publish standards
documents
along the line of US DoD CALS standards. In addition, a number of important
discussion points were clarified, including the political (and in particular,
the European) considerations affecting CALS progress, the relationship
between
CALS and CE, and IPR (Intellectual Property Rights). Also, some
interesting
presentations by speakers from the USA highlighted how their attitude
and
management are evolving under the new regime.
--------------.
Standards Briefs
CALS Shared Resource Centers (CSRCs) are being established by the CALS
Test
Network Office (CTNO) at the AF CALS Program Office.
DISA intends to adopt a standard DoD policy for Corporate Information
Management (CIM) Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) and Open Systems
Architecture.
UKCIC has adopted the APLS conferences to be its official forum for
CALS
topics, says the conference organizers.
----
Products and Services News
Matra Datavision has prepared a 20 page white paper on Concurrent Engineering,
which explains how solid modeling technology enables and enhances CE.
EDI software from EMS will now be available on Sratus Computers.
A new online Warehouse Managment System (WMS) from Exeter Software is
now available
from Stratus Computer, Inc.
CIMLINK has ported its software to DEC NAS environment for better CALS
compliance.
The ECP Enhanced Component Stress Analysis Program has been introduced
by
Powertronic Systems, Inc., (PSI).
An X-Windows compatible version (Release 9.0) of the popular Series
5000tm
CAD Software has been announced by Auto-Trol Technology.
Two major enhancements to IGESDRAW have been announced by Wiz Worx.
PRC won a $37 Million contract for the Army Personnel Electronic Records
Management System/Optical Digital Imagery System (PERMS/ODIS).
The Air Force has taken an Electronic Subscription the the CALS/CE Report,
which allows for unlimited electronic distribution to Air Force personnel.
Engineering Automation Report will initiate publication in March, 1992.
================================================================================
CALS Report Vol. 5 No. 3, March 1992
Proposed Drafts of MIL-STD-1840B and MIL-M-28001B Released for Coordination
Distribution has been made of the proposed:
o Revision B to MIL-STD-1840, Automated Interchange of Technical Information
(Project No.: ILSS-0041)
o Revision B to MIL-M-28001, Markup Requirements and Generic Style
Specification for Electronic Printed Output and Exchange of Text (Project
No.:
ILSS-0050)
for coordination purposes. The coordination process is specified in
DoD
4120.3-M.
------
LLNL EDI Tests Successful
The DoD CALS Test Network (CTN) has successfully completed tests of
the
Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) portion of the military standard
for the
Automated Interchange of Technical Information, MIL-STD-1840, and its
companion suite of military standards. The test, conducted from October
7th
through November 25th, demonstrated the feasibility of transmitting
CALS data
over a commercial network in an EDI envelope. An important result of
this test
was the indication that binary based X.12-841 transactions can be successfully
transferred in network environments (such as X.400 and TCP/IP), an
important
requirement for CALS use. Test participants included Lawrence Livermore
National Laboratory (LLNL), TRW, AT&T, Supply Tech, and the CAM
Software
Research Center (CSRC) of Brigham Young University (BYU). The
CTN is a DoD-
sponsored confederation of voluntary participants from industry and
government, managed by the Air Force Logistics Command at Wright-Patterson
Air
Force Base. LLNL is a technical lead within the CTN Office.
-----
NIAG Report: CALS in Europe Will be Different
The long-awaited NATO Industry Advisory Group (NIAG) Report on the
applicability of CALS has been submitted, with the conclusion that
Europe's
laws, business practices and political environment will lead to a different
CALS concept, than in the states. The report:
NIAG-D(91)16, AC/301(SG/D)D/3, "A NATO Industry Advisory Group Report
on the applicability of CALS to the NATO Countries" , 31 October 1991.
Was distributed by the CALS ISG in January for review and comment.
-----
Step Update: STEP as an ISO Standard in Mid-1993?
by Peter C. Lally, Consultant
This report summarizes results of the January meeting of ISO TC184 SC4
and its
working groups, in OSLO, Norway. The outcome of the meeting was summarized
by
Howard Mason, Engineering Systems Manager, British Aerospace CTU, head
of the
UK Delegation at the Oslo meeting, and British Aerospace Board Member
on PDES
Inc. (Howard also provided the detailed information reported here).
Mason
said that "while there is much work to be done in STEP, there is a
clear
consensus that standard is basically sound, but needs some bug fixing."
He
stressed that with exceptional effort over the next six months, the
first
release of STEP could achieve ISO Standard status in mid-1993.
-------
Standards Briefs
The CALS/CE ISG has released several reports for public use and comment,
including:
o Benefits Working Group Report, September, 1991, Dick Powell, 301-721-2916
FAX 301-721-3156.
o Draft Report on Backfitting Programs to Reflect CALS Initiatives,
August,
1991, Mr. C. P. Gehen, 612-542-5316, FAX 612-542-5599.
o Draft Report on the Enhanced Evaluation, Selection and Acceptance
Criteria
for the Contractor Integrated Technical Information Service (CITIS),
November,
1991, Mr. C. P. Gehen, 612-542-5316, FAX 612-542-5599.
o Report on the Potential Legal Issues Arising from the Implementation
of CALS
by the DoD, November, 1991, Mr. Ashby Shoop, 206-234-6329, FAX 206-234-0234.
o Draft Handbook of Concurrent Engineering for Manufacturing, January,
1992,
Dave Belson, PhD, 213-740-4895.
The distribution of CALS/CE ISG (Industry Steering Group) reports is
coordinated by D. Brent Pope, PhD, Group Executive, CALS/CE ISG, Suite
300,
1025 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20036, 202-775-1440.
US Product Data Association or US PRO will be the new parent organization
to
manage the development, testing and implementation of product data
exchange
technology. In related moves, IPO appointed William Conroy, of GM/EDS
and IPO
Chairman for the last two years, as General Manager of the National
Initiative
for Product Data Exchange.
================================================================================
CALS Report Vol. 5 No. 4, April 1992
Standard EDMICS to Control Funding for DSREDS, EDCARS and Navy/DLA EDMICS
Standard EDMICS, a joint program to establish a standard DoD Engineering
Data
management system, is now controlling funding for all service data
repository
systems, i.e., DSREDS, EDCARS and Navy/DLA EDMICS. Navy/DLA EDMICS
(Engineering Data Management Information and Control System) was developed
to
support Navy/DLA's need for storage of repository data in a CALS compatible
format. At MAISRC MILESTONE III, it had production approval for six
sites and
had been chartered by ASD(P/L) to define a standard engineering data
management system (Standard EDMICS). A Joint EDMICS Strategic Planning
Group
has been established, led by Robert E. Houts.
-----
IMS Program Feasibility Under Study by Commerce and Others
IMS (Intelligent Manufacturing System) is a proposed 10 year joint (Japan,
EC,
Canada and US) program of research, once budgeted by Japan's Ministry
of
International Trade and Industry (MITI) at $1 Billion. IMS is described
as, "A
system which improves productivity by systematizing the intellectual
aspects
involved in manufacturing, flexibly integrating the entire range of
corporate
activities - so as to foster the optimum in the relationship between
man and
intelligent machines." The current six international participants have
begun
an 18-24 month IMS feasibility study. The Department of Commerce (DoC)
will
act as Secretariate in the US for the feasibility study. The National
Association of Manufacturers and others have formed a group called
the
Coalition for IMS (CIMS) to advise DoC.
---------
Analysis: Dem/Val/Prototype Strategy To Alter Science and Technology R&D
The new DoD strategic scenario of two types of conflicts will alter
the
emphasis of DoD's Science and Technology (S&T) research budget
to emphasize
processes off the factory floor. Current DoD strategy is to maintain
a force
capable of one or two small regional conflicts, while designing, developing
and proving weapons systems for superpower conflicts, stopping short
of full
scale production. This means most programs will be funded through a
"Demonstration/Validation/Prototype" Phase, with no funding for acquisition.
With this strategy in mind, DoD S&T R&D will emphasize "Technology
for
Affordability", i.e., technologies that lower life cycle costs but
also make
capital investments off the factor floor. This includes Concurrent
Engineering, STEP, CALS, and Scalable Manufacturing.
-------------------
Eurofighter Aircraft Driving European Standards
by Peter C. Lally, Consultant
The European Fighter Aircraft (EFA) is becoming a major driver for European
standards according to experts close to the project. EFA is typical
of many
European military projects today. It involves a multiple MOD
customer base (
UK, Germany, Italy and Spain ); and it will be supplied by a multinational
industrial base from the same countries. As a result of this close
cooperation, standards are being developed to share product data for
design
and support, said presenters at a seminar in London in March, organized
by the
Eurocals SIG.
--------
PDES, INC. to use Commercial STEP Products in next Generation Toolkit
PDES, Inc. has initiated an activity to evaluate commercial STEP toolkits
the
foundation of the next generation PDES, Inc. software tools.
The current PDES,
Inc. toolkit was designed to provide a software system for use in testing
emerging STEP models and to prototype STEP physical file exchange.
The next
generation of their software toolkit will continue to support the testing
of
STEP models, while also allowing users to prototype a STEP data sharing
environment utilizing the emerging STEP DATA ACCESS INTERFACE (SDAI)
Specification. The goal is to embrace commercial products as much as
possible;
thereby, taking advantage of the latest advances in software engineering,
DBMS, and STEP technology
------
Standards Briefs
DoD DASD (Production Resources) is developing a two volume set of guidelines
for CE Implementation.
DoD DASD (Production Resources) is also developing a revision of MIL-STD
499 (Engineering
Management/Systems Engineering that will reflect guidance contained
in the
latest DoDD 500.1 and DoDI 5000.2.
Abstracts of Papers for CALS EXPO '92 are due this month, says the technical
program committee.
JCALS is an integral part of the Army's Long Range Logistic Plan (ALRLP),
says
the JCALS office.
The CALS Electronic Bulletin Board is now fully operational at NTIS.
The Baltimore/Washington CALS Interest Group is soliciting members for
their
meetings.
ISO SC 18 has been renamed as "Document Processing and Related Communication,"
reports <TAG>, the SGML Newsletter.
-----
Products and Services News
The CALS/CE Report welcomes the CALS Journal, a new quarterly, advertiser-
supported publication from Jeff Hill and William Sleight.
Federal prisoners are ready to perform data entry and conversion services
for
federal customers, says UNICOR Federal Prison Industries, Inc.
Siemens Gammasonics will automate the flow of engineering and manufacturing
information using CIMLINC LINKAGE software.
LLNL has purchased a Formtek Document Scanning and Conversion Management
System
(DSCMS).
United Airlines will use a Datalogics-designed SGML system for managing
Minimum Equipment List (MEL) documents.
A new Version of OPTI-NET DOS CD-ROM Networking Management Software
has been
released by Online Computer Systems, Inc.
A new Release of Ptech Object-Oriented CASE Tool has been announced
by
Associative Design Technology.
A new version of E3M, Short Circuit Current and Voltage Drop Calculation
program has been announced by MC2.
BASISplus is now available for the IBM RS/6000, says Information Dimensions,
Inc. of their document management and retrieval system.
Informative Graphics' Myriad software can convert most PC CAD files
to CALS G-
4 format.
A new version of E3M, Short Circuit Current and Voltage Drop Calculation
program has been announced by MC2.
BASISplus is now available for the IBM RS/6000, says Information Dimensions,
Inc. of their document management and retrieval system.
Lotus 1-2-3 and compatible spreadsheets can be converted to SGML-tagged
tables
with the new TABLETAG software utility from Unifit Company.
================================================================================
CALS Report Vol. 5 No. 5, May 1992
Commerce Pushed by Congress to Facilitate CALS & Concurrent Engineering
Congress is pushing the Department of Commerce (DoC) to facilitate CALS,
Concurrent Engineering and related technologies, said several speakers
at the
recent SME Enterprise Network Event '92, in Washington, DC. Robert
M. White,
Undersecretary for Technology, Department of Commerce, has received
increased
funding for his Advanced Technology Program and has decided to make
CALS "a
national initiative". Congress has apparently become worried about
doing
enough to insure the competitiveness of American Industry.
---------
CITIS Undergoing Revision by Special Committee
A special committee has been formed to redraft the CITIS Specification,
which
was the subject of many criticisms (See CALS/CE Report Vol 5 No.1,
January,
1992) during its initial industry review. CITIS (Contractor Integrated
Technical Information Service), is an important specification (A standard
defines a product, a specification a service) in the CALS family of
documents. It defines online services to be provided the government
by
contractors. One important change being considered, is the elimination
of
"levels" of service, substituting a menu of specific services (if required).
The new redrafting process is expected to be completed in a 25 month
timeframe
with several documents (including guidance and manuals).
-----
Data Modeling Praised by Baldwin, Tomlinson, for Efficient Integration
Maj. Gen. Russ Baldwin, and Dr. James E. Tomlinson, both praised the
use of
IDEF0 and other functional models as methods of identifying and eliminating
wasted functions and discouraging redundancy. Baldwin, speaking at
a recent
meeting of the CALS Industry Steering Group (ISG), said that, "As a
CIM
Project, CALS was required to do a functional model." The modeling
was part of
the development of the CALS architecture, disclosed at CALS EXPO '91
(see
CALS/CE Report, November, 1991). Tomlinson, Project Manager, Joint
CALS
(JCALS), said PM JCALS has also used process/activity/data modeling
during the
development of the JCALS requirements and system.
-----
Positive Movement Seen in UK Attitudes
by Peter C. Lally, Consultant
There is growing evidence of a much more positive attitude from the
UK MOD than we have previously seen. Until very recently the MOD view
was that
Government and industry should each tend to their own information management
requirements, while noting that there were some areas of interface
where
document interchange takes place. However, Air Commodore Martin Palmer,
Director of Policy Studies, Procurement Executive, MOD has announced
that UK
MOD procurement officials, at the one star level, will meet regularly
to
discuss policy and implementation of CALS within the MOD. In addition,
Palmer
added his voice to the growing demand that CALS be "internationalized"
under
ISO. Palmer and others made their announcements at the APLS '92 Conference
in
London.
-------
International News
by the CALS Industry Steering Group International Task Group
The ISG International Task Group (ITG) has begun a quarterly newsletter,
edited by Sandy Phillips, their new Secretary and Communications Working
Committee Chairman.
An International CALS Point of Contact (POC), Dr. Herve LeBoeuf, has
been
designated within the CALS Evaluation and Integration Office.
NATO has established a permanent study group centered on CALS and CALS
related
topics called AC 301, Subgroup D (Standardization/Engineering Practices).
EC sees CALS as an enabler and may sponsor some research, says Dr. Spachis,
EC
Commissioner and Representative to the NATO NIAG CALS project, who
spoke at
the most recent overseas ITG meeting.
AECMA CALS Study report will now focus on coordinating the NIAG CALS
Study
recommendations, says the Secretary of SCEDI, Mr. Roger Sayers.
UKCIC was formally launched at the APLS '92 Conference.
General Reymond, the first head of the French DGA CALS Office has retired.
A Pacific Rim CALS Group is being organized through the US CALS/CE ISG.
CALS Pacific '92 is well underway, says Dr. Judith Lloyd of the Australian
Department of Defence, who is developing the program.
Japan is organizing a CALS Industry Society, under the guidance of Mr.
Hiroshi
Mizuta, Special Assistant to the President, Program Planning and Management
Department, National Space Development Agency of Japan.
----------------
Standards Briefs
Contracts formed using EDI technologies may constitute valid obligations
of
the government, decided the Comptroller General of the United States.
DoD has chartered an Electronic Proposal Submission (EPS) Steering Committee
to ensure EDI proposed standards for costs proposals meet procurements
needs.
IEEE will ballot a revision to IEEE 1076-1987, The Standard VHDL Language
Reference Manual.
$1 Million initial funding commences a multi-year program to develop
STEP
conformance tests by Industrial Technology Institute (ITI) of Ann Arbor
and
the Automated Manufacturing Research Facility (AMRF) at NIST.
A register of conformance testing labs was announced by NIST's National
Computer Systems Laboratory (NCSL).
NIST is seeking comments on a proposed Conformity Assessment Systems
Evaluation (CASE) Program.
A Draft CFI Release Roadmap has been published by the CAD Framework
Initiative.
Two to four years are required to inculcate Concurrent Engineering in
an
organization, concludes a Masters' Thesis by Ron Rouyer at Western
International University.
----
Products and Services News
DEC announced a new suite of EXPRESS products, called, DECexpress Starterkit.
Separately, DEC demonstrated PDES, Inc., prototype software employing
a
database implementation of the PDES/STEP product standards (called
a "level
three") at the APLS 92 Conference in London.
JCALS will use Scangraphics scanners and IDI SGML document databases.
Benchmark tests comparing desktop imaging systems has been released
by Davis,
Inc. Professional Desktop Imaging, reports results of 23 real-world
tests conducted at Lanman Progressive (Washington, DC) comparing desktop
and
dedicated prepress workstations.
The "CAD/CAM Developer's Kit/DXF" for Release 11 was announced by Building
Block Software.
A Windows extension for AutoCAD Release 11 is available from AutoDesk.
IBM took an equity position in Red Shark, a multi-media software developer.
An entry-level electronic illustration package has been announced by
Auto-trol
Technology.
A library of large synthesizable architectures in included in the version
1.2
Release of SoftDesign from HDL Systems.
Computervision moved again to enhance access to their software products.
A low-cost, workstation based VLSI layout editor, VALE was introduced
by Phase
Three Logic.
The newly released MIL-HDBK-217F is supported in RPP 5.0, says Powertronic
Systems, Inc.
Frame Technology, BOSS Logic will jointly develop document management
solutions.
Better integration with Windows are among the features of ImageSystem
Release
2.3, says IBS.
Protection of data from disaster is offered by a new system from Stratus.
================================================================================
CALS Report Vol. 5 No. 6, June 1992
Barlow Says New CSL will Accelerate Changes to MIL-M-28001
Bob Barlow, of Miles, Inc. Agfa Division and Co-Chairman of the CALS
ISG
Publishing Working Group, says that the new CALS SGML Library (CSL,
pronounced
"sizzle") will speed up changes to the content of MIL-M-28001 and allow
the
removal of DTD's, FOSI's and Appendix C Library of Entities. This will
eventually lead to the streamlining of the specification with future
removal
of SGML tutorial material to an SGML guidebook. The CSL will register
Document
Type Definitions (DTD's), Formatting Output Specification Instances
(FOSI's)
and all the SGML elements and attributes that have been approved for
use
throughout DoD: They will be merely referenced by other SGML tagged
files.
Barlow made his comments at the recent MIL-M-28001 comment consolidation
meeting in April.
-----------
Analysis: MIL-STD-1840 Burdened by Architectural Data and Media Limitations
The recent comment review session of MIL-STD-1840B made clear the lingering
burden carried by that CALS standard from the several application
architectures it must support and its tendency to lag in permitting
media
already in commercial use. Originally, MIL-STD-1840 seemed the logical
choice
to require storage of certain data needed by users to reconstruct the
documents or data sets packaged for delivery in compliance with the
standard.
In fact, when 1840 was first developed, the only significant user pressing
for
significant architecture data was the electronic publishing community.
Today,
however, applications are proliferating to Hypertext, IGES, PDES, etc.,
media
options are expanding to CD ROM and GOSIP/IGOSS, and alternative packaging
methods include ODA, EDI, EDIFACT and others. Demands for better support
of
application architecture data choke the comment consolidation meetings
with
parochial debates. Clearly, the scope of MIL-STD-1840 must be narrowed
to its
original mission of interim delivery packaging and all non-inventory
data be
moved to the 28000 series standards.
-------
Joint CITIS Advisory Group Reports Disposition of Major Issues
The special Joint CITIS Advisory Group set up to fast-track a major
re-write
of MIL-C-CITIS (see CALS/CE Report, May, 1992) has reported on the
disposition
of fifteen major Contractor Integrated Technical Information Services
(CITIS)
issues. The fifteen major issues set a framework for redefining the
CITIS
concept and re-drafting the current MIL-C-CITIS draft specification.
-----
EDI Developers and Implementors Using Activity & Data Models to Reduce Costs
Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) transaction developers and users are
using
activity and data models to clarify the exact role played by each message
in
business and trade, says the chair of the X12D Business Practices
Committee, Arlene Callaghan. "Data and activity models have already
saved a lot of time in development by clarifying the need and purpose
of
proposed transactions," she said. EDI is used for formal business
communication between trading partners and is supported, in part, by
the DoD
CALS organization.
--------
OSHA Process Safety Management Standard Drives New Documentation Effort
A new OSHA rule for Process Safety Management Standard (PSM) of highly
hazardous chemicals is expected to create a large effort to update
and manage
plant documentation. The OSHA rule, 29 CFR 1910.119 is projected to
cut the
risk of catastrophic fire and explosion by an estimated 80 percent
and prevent
264 deaths and 1,534 injuries/illnesses annually when fully implemented.
The
new rule requires certain documents to be updated and change managed
according
to defined procedures. Documents include text, diagrams and technical
drawings: Employees must be able to access documents quickly to determine
process hazards. OSHA estimates compliance cost at $888.7 million during
each
of the first five years, although chemical manufacturers expect true
costs to
be much higher. Over 25,000 plants are affected by the new rule.
--------------
Standards Briefs
As of 22 Feb 90, the new address for obtaining copies of DoDISS documents
is:
Standardization Documents Order Desk, Building 4D, 700 Robbins Avenue,
Philadelphia, PA 19111-05984.
Petrotechnical Open Software Corporation is developing information models
to
facilitate sharing of data among exploration/seismic/production-oriented
petroleum software tools.
JCALS says their CALS Workbench Will Improve Support to Soldiers in the Field.
IDEF training is available to DoD Agencies and Services, from DISA.
------
Products and Services News
The TRW CALS COTS Product Guide Second Edition has been released by
the TRW
CALS Program Office.
CIM Process Improvement Methodology for DoD Functional Managers is the
title
of a new book by D. Appleton Company, Inc.
AMP's free distribution of IGES and TIFF product data has been a huge
success,
says Jim Wolowicz, Manager of the EADS Program.
Frame Technology, BOSS Logic will jointly develop document management
solutions.
Better integration with Windows are among the features of ImageSystem
Release
2.3, says IBS.
Protection of data from disaster is offered by a new system from Stratus.
The CALS-vital X12 841 Transaction and UK's EDI standard, TRADACOMS,
are now
supported by Version 2.1 of MacEDI, says the developer, Digit Software,
Inc.
Integration of EDI and E-Mail is the Trend, says Blue Rainbow, in announcing
their MULTINET EDI and MESSENGER E-Mail products.
UN/EDIFACT is now supported by Datatran 2.6.5, from St. Paul Software.
UN/EDIFACT and X12-3020 are now supported by EDISIM, from Foresight Corp.
'Real-time' EDI, allows users to prioritize EDI processing, says TSI
International.
GE Information Services announced four new products:
1. EDI*Benchmark Software System - an enhanced EDI translation management
interface with new PC-based mapping software
2. A/P COEP Service - An electronic payables solution
3. EDI* Express-to-FAX Service - to convert EDI documents to FAX for
non-EDI
customers, and
4. UPC*EXPRESS II Catalog Services - to support retailers and vendors
in UPC
applications.
GEISCO is a Value-Added Network (VAN) for EDI users. Contact Ted Mueller,
GE
Information Services, 301-340-4152.
================================================================================
CALS Report Vol. 4 No. 7, July 1992
McMillan Says CE & CALS Key Elements in Maintaining Quality on Lower Budgets
Colin McMillan, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Production and Logistics,
said that Concurrent Engineering and CALS were "key elements" in their
strategy to maintain a high quality but smaller forces dictated by
the new
world order and budget realities. McMillan made his comments at the
CE & CALS
Washington '92 meeting. He disclosed that DoD has, "reviewed approximately
thirty programs for compliance with CALS guidelines...We will be reviewing
more programs in the next year for possible migration to standard systems."
----------------
Transcontinental ISDN Project to Accelerate ISDN Application Interest
The Transcontinental ISDN Project Gaithersburg, MD (TRIP '92) will link
multiple applications using the new National ISDN - 1 telephone Standard
on
16-20 November. ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) technology
enables
transmission of voice, data, and images over a single telephone line.
NI-1
enables local phone companies to link nationally. ISDN applications
are
growing dramatically:
Estimated
Application Compound Annual Growth Rate (%)
CAD/CAM/CIM
15
Desk-Desk Conferencing 44
Group III FAX
9
Group IV FAX
37
Host-Host Interconnect 13
Lan-Lan Interconnect 11
Transaction Processing 5
Point of Sale
6
WS-Database
6
WS-Host
15
Work at Home
12
Total Lines 11
Source: Ameritech
ISDN lines cost about the same as current (POTS) phone lines, however,
equipment is more expensive, due to a small user base. TRIP '92 will
"jump
start" ISDN demand.
----
CENDI WG Drafting Guidelines for ATPA Non-Print STI Data Delivery
CENDI's Working Group on "Standards for Video and Other Non-Print STI"
is
planning to recommend procedures and standards for use in Commerce
regulations
for mandatory STI input to NTIS, under the American Technology Preeminence
Act
(ATPA or PL-102-245). Non-Print STI (Scientific and Technical Information)
refers to media other than paper and microform, mainly videotape, magnetic
tape, IBM and Macintosh diskette, optical discs including CD-ROM, film,
audiotape and multimedia containing publicly available scientific,
technical
and engineering information, including text, data, images and software.
CENDI
(Commerce, Energy, NASA, Health, Defense Information) has been meeting
for
years to coordinate STI delivery to the Government. ATPA sets deposit
requirements on "unclassified scientific, technical and engineering
information which results from federally funded R&D activities."
--------
Australian News
The Australian CALS Education Working Group has produced a CALS Information
Pack in response to requests for more information on CALS.
Australian Defence has adopted a two phased implementation strategy
for both
Australian Defence and industry, which is similar to international
implementations.
The Australian Department of Defence recently commenced considering
an EDI
policy.
The Australian Defence Industries has released a tender stating that
it was a
mandatory requirement for all systems, equipment and software tendered,
where
relevant to comply with the present known CALS specifications.
o COREPUBS, an electronic publishing system designed for CALS upgrade,
received a silver productivity award at the Government Technology Event
Awards
held recently.
An Australian CALS Bulletin Board is being planned.
CALS Pacific '92 has recorded registrations from Thailand, Japan and
Korea,
expanding the scope of interest beyond Australia, the conference host
nation.
---------
Data Modeling/IDEF News
IDEF is better than structured analysis (SA), says Pat Duran, a modeler
experienced with both methods.
IDEF is the first set of modeling techniques to be selected as a FIPS,
announced Margaret H. Law, Computer Systems Laboratory at NIST, at
the IDEF
Users Group Meeting.
The Army Corps of Engineers has developed a Data Encyclopedia.
A Standard format for exchanging IDEF models is being developed by the
IDEF
Users Group.
NCNS is developing an IDEF model Repository under contract.
----
Standards Briefs
MIL-D-28000A has been released with a date of 10 Feb 1992.
The 3D Piping IGES Application Protocol Version 1.1 is now available.
The Society of Concurrent Engineering has formed to promote CE applications.
IGES Users Groups have formed or are forming in:
Minn./St. Paul, MN Hap Stokes, Control Data
612-482-2895
S. California Andrew
Ko, IBM
310-447-4340
Bay Area, CA
Lou Sanchez, Lockheed
408-756-8326
Detroit, MI
Deborah Gervais, CDI Transp Group 313-578-6320
Cincinnati, OH Dave Mattei,
ITI
513-576-3948
Alan Peltzman is the President of the National IGES Users Group (NIUG).
EDIF and PDES, Inc. have agreed to work together on design standards
based on
EDIF Information Models.
NIST's new guide to private-sector laboratory accreditation programs
is
designed to help officials in commerce, industry, and government locate
private-sector laboratory accreditation and similar-type programs for
the
testing of products and services.
US Army now has several CE production engineering tools available or
under
development, according to the Production Engineering Division (PED)
of the
Systems Engineering and Production Directorate (SEPD) at the U.S. Army
Missile
Command (MICOM), Redstone Arsenal, Alabama.
-----------
Products and Services News
FOOTPRINT can help assess Army manpower skill availability, says the
US Army
Personnel Integration command (USAPIC), now Deputy Chief of Staff for
Personnel Integration, (DCSPI) and ODCSPER, who developed the software.
KEYOPS software will assist with the interchange of documents using
CALS
standard computer data, says Wang Laboratories.
A new CALS/CE OEM toolkit for CALS-based graphics management, was announced
by
Carberry Technology, Inc.
EDI for less that $600 is offered by X-Caliber from Patrick Frantz Consulting.
A phone book of EDI ready trading partners is available from EDI, Spread
the
Word! for a nominal fee.
Incoming EDI documents are mapped automatically to output documents
by the new
release of Sterling Software's GENTRAN package.
Data Dictionary and Repository Management is easier with DB EXCEL, says
Reltech Products, Inc.
Quality Control (QC) methods can be applied to data management, using
QDB/Analyzetm from QDB Solutions, Inc.
A International Award for Excellence in Open Systems is planned for
UNIX Expo
'92 in September. Sorry, users only.
A strong DesignIDEF IDEF0 Graphic Interface, Cross-vendor capablility
and
integrations of modeling and analysis, distinguishes Meta Software's
products.
In-house methodologies can be integrated into IDEF methods, says Rick
Meyer of
Knowledge Based Systems, Inc.
A Windows Version of IDEFine-0 is now available from Wizdom Systems.
Protection of data from disaster is offered by a new system from Stratus.
A $99 CALS-compliant raster tracing utility is available for AutoCAD
Release
11 from GTX Corporation.
The first parametrically searchable resistor and capacitor database
was
announced by Cahners.
PRC was awarded a four-year $22.5 million contract for the Strategic
Air
Command's Intelligence Data Handling System.
The first workstation with built-in ISDN is Sun's new SPARCstation 10,
said
Sun in announcing their product.
ISDN is used to receive Postscript files at 56,000 Baud, for pre-press
imaging
and delivery by Business Link.
Free EDA Design Automation Benchmarks are available, courtesy of Association
of Computing Machinery, Special Interest Group on Design Automation
(ACM/SIGMA).
EDA CAD test tool source code is available to universities and affiliated
companies.
Hundreds of ACM/IEEE EDA DA Articles, 1964-1990, are available on 8
CD-ROMs.
The "Design Automation Library" has full text and figure images, and
provides
special search and retrieval.
Behavioral and Synthesis can both be expressed in UDL/I, a new Large
Scale
Integration language for chips, says JEIDA (Japan Electronic Industry
Development Association), the consortium which is developing it.
A directory of support for Verilog HDL now lists 30 vendors.
Standard model libraries are possible with the newly approved IEEE VHDL
1164
(MVL9) standard, says VHDL International, in announcing their support.
================================================================================
CALS Report Vol. 4 No. 8, August 1992
Core Information Functions are Basis of New Draft CITIS
The new CITIS implementation concept proposed in its revised draft replaces
levels of service with "Core Information Functions" expected as part
of every
service. These are augmented by "value-added optional information functions"
as needed by each program. A revised draft of MIL-STD-CITIS has been
submitted
to DoD by the Joint CITIS Advisory Group (JCAG). JCAG was composed
of DoD
representatives from OASD(P&L), the Army, Navy, Air Force, DLA,
PM-JCALS,
and ten industry representatives from the CALS/CE ISG. The JCAG was
tasked
to develop a viable CITIS concept and redraft CITIS requirements. According
to Herman J.Correale, Chairman Joint CITIS Advisory Group, the draft's
MIL-STD
format was selected because a specific document was needed to be referenced
in a contract specifying CITIS requirements. DoD tentatively plans
to
release the new CITIS requirements in the November/December 1992 time
frame.
----
32 Participants Committed to CALS Roadmap 2000 at EXPO '92
In an unusually strong level of interest, NCGA has announced that 32
participants have already committed to the CALS Roadmap 2000 demonstration,
scheduled for CALS Expo'92 in San Diego, CA, December 7-10, 1992. The
announcement was made by Michele Davis, who is coordinating the demonstration
on behalf of NCGA. The Roadmap will illustrate CALS technologies in
several
scenarios.
------
MIL-R-28002B Coordination Draft Released
The draft has been released for coordination of the proposed Revision B to
MIL-R-28002, Military Specification, Raster Graphics Representation
In Binary
Format, Requirements For (Project No.: ILSS-0051)
The coordination process specified in DoD 4120.3-M.
--------
Air Standardization Coordinating Committee (ASCC) Examines CALS/CE
The first meeting of Working Party 30 of the Air Standardization Coordinating
Committee (ASCC) was held in Ottawa, Canada from May 4th to May 8th,
1992.
ASCC is comprised of representatives from:
o the United States Navy (USN),
o the United States Air Force (USAF),
o the Royal Air Force (RAF),
o the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF),
o the Royal Australian Navy (RAN),
o the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF), and
o the Canadian Department of National Defence (CDND)
Of the many ASCC working parties, Working Party (WP) 30's scope of
responsibilities includes initiatives such as CALS/CE. The objective
of WP 30
is to attain the interoperability of information systems used for management
of engineering and logistics (includes maintenance) activities in the
ASCC
member nations' air forces. The Canadian Department of National Defence
hosted
and chaired the first WP 30 meeting.
-------
Standards/PDES Task Group Offers Revised MIL-STD-1840
A revised version of the key CALS Standard, MIL-STD-1840, was developed
by the
Standards/PDES Task Group of the CALS/CE Industry Steering Group (ISG)
as a
result of two weeks of comment consolidation. The revised text, which
represents a major simplification of the standard, while providing
for easy
incorporation of future data formats and media, was offered to DoD
for
consideration. The CALS Standards/PDES Task Group work was reported
by co-
chair James R. Crawford of IBM, who led the redraft effort. The Defense
Information Systems Agency now administers the MIL-STD-1840 and 28000
Series
Standards and this is expected to accelerate further activity in the
development and implementation of these documents.
------
CFI News
The following is a summary of the latest news from the CAD Framework
Initiative (CFI). CFI is a self-funded consortium of Electronic Design
Automation (EDA) vendors who are designing 3rd party software interfaces
to
major EDA design CAD systems (i.e., framework) to make add-on 3rd party
tools
plug-compatible.
Technology CAD (TCAD) is the CFI effort to deal with encoding permissible
design parameters for design tool guidance.
SGML has been proposed for delivery of CFI's "Electronic Data Book"
of
component parameters.
Version 2.0 of the Framework Architecture Reference (FAR) is close to
publishing, says Ken Willet.
Four CAD Framework Initiative Pilot Projects have been announced. They
will
integrate independent Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools.
--------
Standards Briefs
(Based in part on DAGC minutes prepared by Arthur Casanova, consultant)
The CALS/CE Industry Steering Group has proposed to restructure itself
to better
align itself with the DoD CALS Evaluation and Integration Office and
the new
DoC influence.
"First Principles of Concurrent Engineering -- A Competitive Strategy
for
Electronic Product Development", is a new report available CE Task
Group.
The CALS "Blue Book" is being revised by the Education & Training Task Group
The MIL-D-28000A Class V AP (version 1.1) is undergoing validation testing
at
Carderock Division of the Naval Surface Warfare Center (formerly David
Taylor
Research Center), while also going through the approval process of
the IGES
PDES Organization (IPO), according to Lisa Deeds, Co-chairman of the
IPO
CALS Special Interest Group.
The DoD Technical Reference Model for Information Management (TRM) Version
1.2, dated 15 May 1992 is now available through NTIS (and for downloading
via
the CALS BBS).
The shelf-life of CD-ROM search-and-retrieval software is running at
about
five years, says Allan Betts, head of the Electronic Media Production
Services
(EMPS) of NTIS.
CENDI is nearing completion on a draft of recommended procedures and
standards
for use in commerce regulations for mandatory STI input to NTIS, under
the
American Technology Preeminence Act (PL-102-245).
The IPO (IGES/PDES Organization) is now an accredited standards making
organization with the delegated authority to develop ANSII standards,
announced Jim Snyder, Co-Chairman of the CALS ISG Standards/PDES Task
Group.
National Product Data Initiative is preparing a survey of standardization
efforts, says Merril Hessel, its director.
Systems Architectures for Concurrent Engineering will be the subject
of a
special issue of the International Journal of Systems Automation: Research
and Applications (SARA).
DoD is conducting a survey of Human Systems Integration (HSI) tools
&
databases, called the "Liveware" Survey.
-----------
Products and Services News
DICE Logistics Process Flow Charts and accompanying minutes from the
Validation /Verification Workshop (October 11-12, 1990) are on sale
by CERC.
Joe Meredith has begun a company called Advanced Engineering Processes
to
provide expertise to companies wishing to implement technologies like
concurrent engineering.
PRC has launched a commercial version of their EDMICS imaging software,
called
the Digital Data Management System (DDMS).
Intergraph has begun deliveries NAVSEA CAD-2 systems to the Navy.
Intergraph has released its raster file formats to public for license-free
use.
================================================================================
CALS Report Vol. 4 No. 9, Sept 1992
MLRS Chosen as International CALS Demonstration Project
The Multi-Launch Rocket System (MLRS) has been selected as the first
international CALS demonstration project. The weapon system, under
development
at Redstone Arsenal, AL, is sponsored by five international partners,
US,
France, Germany, United Kingdom, and Italy. The system, which had already
planned substantial use of automation in documentation production,
is
modifying its plans to be a demonstration of international CALS use.
-----
Leboeuf says CALS Spec/Standards Re-Release is on Track
The revision and re-release this year of all CALS Specs and Standards
is on
track, says Herve Leboeuf, of the DoD CALS Evaluation and Integration
Office.
In addition, the CALS EIO is making changes to the DoD instructions
on DFARS
and updating other military standards to permit CALS. For example,
MIL-STD-973
covers configuration management and MIL-STD-100, covers drawings, and
MIL-T-
3100 covers tech data packages. All these standards are being changed
to allow
for digital data.
---------
Analysis: UN/EDIFACT US Adoption Hindered by Lack of Practical Transactions
Adoption by US firms of the highly touted United Nations rules for Electronic
Data Interchange for Administration, Commerce and Transport (UN/EDIFACT)
is
being hindered by the lack of progress in developing transactions.
With little
advantage offered over the widely used ANSI X12 EDI standard, there
is no
incentive to invest in the new transaction format. EDI is the communication
of
business transactions between trading partners using standard formats.
The two
formats in popular use are ANSI X12 and UN/EDIFACT. The lagging UN/EDIFACT
development may retard its test and use by DoD, particularly in the
CALS and
Electronic Commerce initiatives.
---------
New Draft MIL-STD-499B, Systems Engineering, Shows CALS Standards' Shortfalls
The new (6 May 92) draft standard, MIL-STD-499B, Systems Engineering,
which
implements the guidance of DoD Instruction 5000.2 Part 6 Section A
(dated 23
Feb 1992) is now being circulated for comment. The new standard requires
higher degrees of requirement and functional traceability, verification
and
risk management. If a CITIS-like MIL-STD-499B compliant design relationship
is
to be implemented, it is certain to require data exchanges not currently
supported by CALS formats.
-----------
Longhouser Says Acquisition and Budgeting Processes Not Aligned
Brig Gen John E. Longhouser, Assistant Deputy for Systems Management,
Office
of the Army Acquisition Executive (AAE), said that DoD acquisition
and
DoD/Congressional budgeting are not aligned. Such alignment is critical,
since, "one of the imperatives is continuous modernization, ... in
a period of
less funding, less risk, and threatened industrial base. Because of
the
reduced funding, there are issues that affect the industrial base,
as well."
Longhouser made his remarks at the recent meeting of the MANPRINT working
group. MANPRINT seeks to integrate man and processes by a methodological
approach to Human Systems Integration (HSI).
------
Standards Briefs
The Navy/Marine Corps Manager's Desktop Guide for CALS Implementation,
May,
1992, provides help to defense implementors of CALS and CE and is a
compilation of the Navy's direction and intent for the incorporation
of CALS
into defense systems programs.
A Program Implementation Guide for CALS Courses has been developed by
AFIT,
for use in CALS-related school curricula.
The Air Force has issued official tailoring guidance for acquisition
contract
language for Technical Manuals and Engineering Data. The documents
contain
language intended to be included directly in contracts:
TM-86-01C - Air Force Technical Manual Contract Requirements.
Unnumbered - Air Force Engineering Data Tailoring Guidance.
Logisticians can help in determining life cycle environmental hazards,
says
the Society of Logistics Engineers (SOLE).
The President's Science Advisor Dr. Allen Bromley has asked DOC to look
into
making Scientific and Technical Information (STI) more useful.
DoD is funding development of a FIPS for IDEF0 and IDEF1x.
Table - Summary of International Quality Assurance Standards
---------
Products and Services News
The first product validated under MIL-STD-1388-2B was announced by Integrated
Support Systems, Inc.
An EDI Suppliers Guide has been developed by Hughes Aircraft Company.
A proposed Trading Partner Agreement covering 12 EDI transactions is
available
from McDonnell Douglas Corporation.
Review and Redlining software for MicroStation requiring no CAD experience
was
announced by Intergraph Corporation.
================================================================================
CALS Report Vol. 4 No. 10, Oct 1992
Growing European Momentum Drives Internationalization of CALS
by Alain Collet HT2C France
The growing interest in CALS in Europe is driving a trend to internationalize
CALS by merging or recasting the US DoD standards with European Economic
Community (EEC) or International Standards Organization (ISO) standards.
In
addition, European defense firms, led mainly by a long-standing CALS
office at
France Ministry of Defense DGA (Delegation Generale pour l'Armement,
the
Acquisition body of the French MOD), have implemented CALS-like applications
using largely European or International standards, with good results.
Other
European countries have either established CALS offices, or portray
initiatives under other names as accomplishing the same ends. The growing
trend was very much in evidence at the recent CALS EUROPE '92 in Paris.
------------
NIST Support of the CALS Initiative: 1991 Synopsis
By Sharon Kemmerer and David Jefferson of NIST have released a synopsis
providing summary abstracts on the published and unpublished deliverables
provided to the CALS Office during 1991. [Public availability of these
reports
does not imply the CALS Evaluation and Integration Office has endorsed
these
conclusions and recommendations presented.] This summary is on
work other
than that which has been done under the development and management
of the NIST
National PDES Testbed (NPT). Deliverables by the NPT are found
under separate
cover. [Titles of NPT CALS deliverables are available through
Ellen Trager,
NIST, Building 220, Room A127, Gaithersburg, MD 20899.]
-----
Some PDES/STEP Users Frustrated with Slow Pace and Cost of STEP Development
Some of the main users of PDES/STEP are becoming frustrated with the
slow pace
of PDES/STEP development and are modifying the plans to incorporate
the
standard into their current projects. STEP (Standard for the Exchange
of
Product Data) will encode product data by its defining features, PDES
(Product
Data Exchange using STEP) is the US program supporting STEP. Few vendors
have
produced products capable of the returns promised by STEP, without
extensive
software customization and application protocol development.
------------
Standards Briefs
An EIA panel endorsed the latest approach to CITIS with a handful of
changes,
at the quarterly CALS review.
The IPO CALS/IGES Special Interest Group and CALS ISG Drawing and Graphics
Committee are negotiating a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) to act
as points
of contact in their respective organizations.
The first of a four-phase National ISDN testing program was completed
successfully.
CIM is trying to design an architecture for integrate data models, says
Russel
J. Richards, CIM Chief of Data Architecture and Modeling.
APs from the PDES/STEP Product Life Cycle Support Committee are now
as
follows:
Application Protocol Title Status
Life Cycle Product Change Process
Approved ISO TC184/SC4 (AP# 208)
Life Cycle Management
Proposed PMAG - 5/90
Product Procurement
Proposed PMAG - 9/91
Product Operation
Proposed PMAG - 9/91
Product Maintenance
Proposed PMAG - 10/92
The TRW CALS Program Office is soliciting inputs to the third edition
of the
TRW CALS COTS Guide.
-------
Products and Services News
Intergraph won the second (NAVFAC) CAD-II contract, besting Federal
Computer
Corporation proposing GIS software/IBM hardware and Centel Federal
Systems
proposing GIS & AutoCAD/Sun hardware.
South Africa is interested in CALS applications, particularly those
using EDI,
says Naested Moolman, Logistics Tech (Pty) Ltd.
Formtek has announced native support of CALS Raster Type II (tiled)
standard,
in addition to providing full support of the CALS MIL-R-28002A Type
I
standard. In related news, Formtek, Inc., announced document management
for
large, high production engineering applications, is available through
a new
family of Technical Information Management Solutions, FORMTEK:TIMS.
Audre's image compression/decompression code passed NIST tests for MIL-STD-
1840A and MIL-R-28002A compliance, says the vendor.
Manufacturability of a PCB is determined before fabrication by a new
software
tool from Infinite Graphics, Inc.
The new ProductTrack Requirements Manager will track complex sets of
requirements, says its developer, CIMFLEX.
New releases of the Wiz Worx tools for IGES and HP-GL data formats are
now
available.
The Army awarded a $1M contract to the CALSCE Electronic Packaging Research
Center (College Park, MD) to study Physics of Failure.
ADI, Sydney Australia, bought a CALS-compliant DDDS system from PRC.
A Booklet explaining MIL-STD-1388 and Integrated Logistics Support is
available from O'Neil and Associates, Inc.
================================================================================
CALS Report Vol. 4 No. 11, Nov 1992
Strassmann Says 100 DoD Modeling Projects Underway, Growing at One Per Week
Paul Strassmann, Director of Defense Information, OASD, said that 100
Business
Process Modeling projects are underway inside DoD and are growing at
one per
week. The DoD Corporation Information Management (CIM) office has been
advocating business process modeling of "AS-IS" and "TO-BE" processes,
followed by Value-Added and Functional Economic Analyses to determine
the
costs and benefits of the process changes. Strassman made his comments
in a
Keynote Address to the IDEF Users Group meeting in Washington, DC.
------------
JCALS News
This is a summary of JCALS news reported by the Joint Computer-aided
Acquisition and Logistic Support (JCALS) program office.
A Joint CALS Functional Requirements Management Plan (22 June 92) sets
up an
activity to identify and integrate them under supervision of a board.
CDR ACALS Program Milestone Passed.
JCALS has Received Army MAISRC Approval.
Mr. Charles Austin is the new PEO STAMIS.
Mr. Juan J. Vecchione is the new Deputy Project Manager (DPM) for PM JCALS.
JCALS and IDS programs have established a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)
to
interface the Air Force's Integrated Data Strategy (IDS) Program and
the
JCALS Program.
JCALS contractor Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC) will conduct Site
Surveys
of proposed test sites to identify user requirements and site capabilities.
JCALS Training will use a campus approach to provide system instruction
to
users.
JCALS has established several Joint Working Groups to provide additional
program support.
---------
MTC Clearinghouse Program Illustrates Support of Small Manufacturer
by Gary K. Conkol, NIST Great Lakes MTC
In 1989 NIST's MTC (Manufacturing Technology Center) program established
3
centers designed to help the small manufacturer through technology
transfer.
The idea was to search out and find what was needed and then help the
small
manufacturer install and operate it to their advantage. Today there
are 7
centers,, each separate private non-profit organizations which have
to be self
supportive after 6 years. The Cleveland Advanced Manufacturing Program's
(CAMP) Great Lakes MTC will be starting year 4 on Christmas day 1992.
The
GLMTC has worked with over 4,500 manufacturing companies in the Great
Lakes
region to date. This includes projects ranging from factory floor layout
to
helping companies translate CAD/CAM files from and to their customers.
Product
data exchange was such a common problem that they recently established
what
they call the "Clearinghouse Project". The Clearinghouse Project maintains
a
pool of expertise at the GLMTC in data exchange to and from a variety
of
formats. The concept is to take a large complicated product dataset
and break
it down into something the small manufacturer can deal with.
---------------
DoD TRM Version 1.3 (Coordination Draft) Available on NTIS
The DoD Technical Reference Model for Information Management (TRM) Version
1.3
(Coordination Draft), dated 30 September 1992, is available for downloading
on
this NTIS BBS. The document is being made available in draft form to
solicit
industry review and comment. The comment period, as being announced
in an
upcoming edition of the Commerce Business Daily, will continue until
20
November 1992. Version 1.3 includes certain changes to align with the
DoD CALS
Architecture and Standards and POSIX.
------------
Letter to the Editor
--------
Standards Briefs
ManTech will fund a $600,000 STEP implementation program implemented
in a
cooperative effort by ITI, NIST, and the Navy ManTech program.
US PDES, Inc. and German ProSTEP have agreed to to work together on
accelerating STEP development.
The CALS Technology Center will study IETMs' use and support by COTS
software,
including JCALS says the CALS Test Network.
Searches and on-line access to DTIC databases is available free of charge
to
the DoD community and its contractors.
FIPS (Federal Information Processing Standards:
o Approval of FIPS 171, Key Management Using ANSI X9.17, for Federal
Agency
use. It adopts ANSI X9.17-1985 for secret-key encryption and distribution.,
effective 30 October, 1992.
o Approval of FIPS 172, VHSIC Hardware Description Language (VHDL).
FIPS 172
adopts ANSI/IEEE 1076-1987) for integrated circuit description.
o Proposal of a FIPS for a Standard Page Description Language (SPDL).
This
FIPS would adopt the Internationals Standards Organization/International
Electrotechnical Commission Standard Page Description Language (SPDL),
ISO/IED
DIS 10180.
NIST awarded two new Manufacturing Technology Centers. They are:
o Upper Midwest Manufacturing Technology Center (UMMTC), Minnesota Technology
Inc., 111 Third Avenue S., Suite 400, Minneapolis, MN 55401, TEL 612-338-7722,
and
o California Manufacturing Technology Center (CMTC), El Camino College,
16007
Crenshaw Blvd., Torrance, CA 90506, TEL 916-445-7412.
Other centers in the NIST Manufacturing Technology Center Program include:
o Mid-America Manufacturing Technology Center, Overland Park, KS, 913-649-
4333.
o Midwest Manufacturing Technology Center, Industrial Technology Institute,
Ann Arbor, MI, 313-769-4325.
o Southeast Manufacturing Technology Center, Enterprise Development
Institute,
Columbia, SC, 803-252-8806.
o Great lakes Manufacturing Technology Center, Cleveland Advanced
Manufacturing Program, Cleveland, OH, 216-531-3000.
o Northeast Manufacturing Technology Center, Rensselaer Polytechnic
Institute,
Troy, NY, 518-276-2932.
A video on information management strategies has been developed by NIST's
AMRF.
NIST has established a process planning testbed with DARPA funding.
ATP and research facility construction FY93 funding increases were signed
by
President Bush.
A new report detailing the Federal Advanced Materials and Processing
Program
(AMPP) has been released.
-------
Products and Services News
CALS expert Terry R. Savage has retired from TRW, where he served as
CALS
Program Manager.
Concurrent Engineering: the Market Opportunity is a new report from Ovum Ltd.
Applications can be interfaced to Sterling's EDI software, using new
products
from the EDI vendor.
IDI's BASISplus document database will integrate Exoterica's SGML document
parsing technology.
IGES to IGES translators, macros, customization features, etc., highlight
IGESpro Version 2.0, from Compunix, Inc. of Southfield, MI.
A Ventura-to-FrameMaker Filter is available with the purchase of FrameMaker
3.0 for Windows.
SPAG has inaugurated the 'Process to Support Interoperability (PSI)'
to support
open systems.
Mult-software, bi-directional translators make AGFA CAPS Version 6.5
more
flexible, says AGFA of its new release.
CapFast EDA is available for Windows and, soon, Windows NT, says Phase
Three
Logic.
CORE Software Technology will use Carberry Technology's CGM vector viewer
to
their CORE product, used for image display, manipulation, file management
an
image processing.
Advanced Technology Center will integrate certain GTX tools into their
Electronic Document Management products.
Digital announced a EDI gateway for IBM applications running under MVS-Batch
and VSE-CICS, called HostBridge.
================================================================================
CALS Report Vol. 4 No. 12, Dec 1992
Transition Plan Defines Roles & Responsibilities for CALS EIO and JLSC
A plan has been approved by Colin McMillan, Assistant Secretary of Defense
for
Production and Logistics, for the transition of CALS logistics functions
from
the Defense CALS Executive (DCE) to the Joint Logistics Systems Center
(JLSC).
The plan clearly defines the mission of the CALS Evaluation and Integration
Office as responsible for the the DoD-wide transition to a paperless
operation, through policy changes, technology insertion and other acquisition-
oriented actions and programs. JLSC, in contrast, is clearly the final
owner
and end user of logistics systems and will acquire responsibility for
them,
once CALS integration issues are resolved. This includes all or part
of
certain "Flagship" programs, i.e., JCALS and JEDMICS, which will be
transitioned to appropriate agencies by joint decision of the DCE,
Commander,
JLSC, and Director, DISA (Defense Information and Systems Agency).
Most
Technical Manual-programs either go immediately to JLSC, or will migrate
to or
interface with JCALS and most probably later go to JLSC. The transition
keeps,
at least in part, a promise made by Major General Edward R. Baldwin
at the
beginning of his tenure as Defense CALS Executive, to determine the
proper
home for the great diversity of CALS activities and programs identified
or
started during the formative years of the CALS initiative. "By March,
1993, we
hope to have all CALS Programs assigned to other Functional Commands,"
Baldwin
said. The plan was prepared by the Functional & Systems Division
CALS
Evaluation and Integration Office and reviewed by Major General Baldwin
(as
Defense CALS Executive), Mr James H. Reay, Director, Logistics Systems
Development Directorate, and Major General John F. Phillips, Commander,
Joint
Logistics Systems Center.
--------------
Tables:
DCE/CEIO CONCEPT OF OPERATION
JLSC CONCEPT OF OPERATION
Remaining Programs/Systems Requiring Disposition
--------
Baldwin: Focus is Integration, not Standards
"The focus of CALS is on integration, not standards," says Major General
Edward R. Baldwin, Defense CALS Executive (DCE). Baldwin is emphasizing
this
shift in focus for CALS from the standards emphasis made by many vendors
and
writers. We asked MGen Baldwin about the new directions he has taken
the CALS
Evaluation and Integration Office (CEIO) in an exclusive interview
with the
CALS/CE Report.
----------
CALS Initiative Launched for German-Speaking Economies
A large number of German-speaking government and industrial organizations
have met to establish a program called the Deutsche CALS Initiative
(German
CALS Initiative). The October, 1992 meeting was planned and sponsored
by the
Industrieanlagen-Betriebsgesellschaft m.b.H. (IABG) and was held at
IABG at
Ottobrun, Germany. The objective of this effort is to spread and put
into
action the concepts and potential of this global strategy within the
German
speaking economies in Europe.
-----
Construction Experts to Extend CALS Piping, Other Product Data Work
Representatives of the U.S. process and petrochemical industries have
agreed
to examine the advantages of joining research and development efforts
for a
national and international digital product data exchange (PDE) standard
covering the life cycle of their constructed facilities. The
decision
highlighted a recent workshop at the National Institute of Standards
and
Technology where government and industry leaders labeled the emerging
PDE
standard as critical to U.S. competitiveness in the global marketplace.
The
group of chemical plant design experts is planning several tasks, including
the extension of the CALS Piping Application Protocol (AP) and other
results
in defining the product data used in plant construction and maintenance.
The
workshop was sponsored by the NIST Computer Integrated Construction
Group,
Building and Fire Research Laboratory. The work could rival the size
and scope
of several projects under way at the PDES, Inc. program, though the
exact
sponsorship and funding are still in the planning stages. During a
presentation to the workshop attendees, Commerce Under Secretary for
Technology Robert M White urged the two industries to help develop
and
implement the emerging international PDE standard, known as STEP, or
Standard
for the Exchange of Product Model Data.
--------
Apple Macintosh CALS-Compliant Products
----------------------------
Standards Briefs
Educational materials, curricula, and media is being collected by the
CALS/CE
ISG Education and Communications Division, by request of MGEN Baldwin,
DoD
Defense CALS Executive (DCE).
Fourteen companies are participating in an IGES data transfer test (SMAN
Pilot
Project), sponsored by the Great Lakes Manufacturing Center/CAMP.
The NIPDE Product Data Exchange Baseline Activities Report has documented
over
300 product data exchange activities at over 100 US corporations, industrial
consortia, standards organizations and government agencies.
White called the TRIP '92 ISDN Demonstration a "Milestone".
Rapid Prototyping in Manufacturing is the subject of a new state-of-the-art
review by the Manufacturing Technology Information Analysis Center
(MTIAC)
at IIT.
-------
Products and Services News
The US Marine Corps has ordered about $3.5 million of EDMICS equipment
for
their Logistics Base in Albany, GA.
The Department of Commerce certified the Datakey, Inc. implementation
of the
Data Encryption Standard (DES) in an integrated-circuit card, says
the
manufacturer.
IDI has been approved as an IBM Industry Application Specialist (IAS),
says
Information Dimensions, Inc.
IGES Data Analysis has announced new products and releases:
IGESVIEW Version 3.0
IGESXpert
IGESMaker