Abstract
The Standard for the Exchange of Product model data (STEP - ISO 10303) is an international standard for the communication of product information between heterogenous systems. In this presentation, the question of how STEP should be implemented is examined. The objectives of the STEP Development process are presented and the resulting effect that these objectives had on the structure of the standard is explained. However, conflicting objectives resulted in a structure that lacked appropriate mechanisms for dealing efficiently with implementation considerations. The STEP Development Process is compared/contrasted with a database design process to discern where implementation considerations (i.e., tuning, optimization) should take place within the process. A technical architecture for the standard is presented and a missing component of the standard is identified and explained: the Implementation Schema. Current STEP efforts with respect to Implementation Schemas are then presented.
