Glossary

3D XML is a universal, lean XML-based format to generate 3D geometries. 3D XML is based on XML and is integrated in all products made by Dassault to guarantee complete support beyond the product life cycle.

The AAM is the first step in developing an AP. It allocates and orders the procedures of the process chain to be described, and delimits it from adjoining activities.

The Automotive Industry Action Group is a globally recognized organization founded in 1982 by a group of visionary managers from DaimlerChrysler, Ford Motor Company, and General Motors. The purpose: To provide an open forum where members cooperate in developing and promoting solutions that enhance the prosperity of the automotive industry. AIAG's focus is to continuously improve business processes and practices involving trading partners throughout the supply chain. www.aiag.org

The AICs, which form the 500-series of the STEP standard, contain the constructs which are shared by several APs, as e.g. certain geometry descriptions. This ensures that requirements which occur in several APs are mapped in the same way in the AIM.

In the AIM, the requirements defined in the ARM are mapped onto pre-defined, standardized data structures. The result of that mapping is the EXPRESS schema, on which current implementations in the CAx-IF and PDM-IF are based. See also: ARM, EXPRESS, Mapping, Schema

U.S. institute for the standardization of industrial processes. It is member of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). An ANSI standard is comparable to a DIN standard. www.ansi.org

Each Application Protocol (200-series within STEP) specifies the context, scope and implementation requirements of a designated application area and thus ensures unambiguous information exchange. The scope is defined by the product type and life cycle and the types and uses of product data. www.prostep.org/de/standards/doku/

A programming interface is one that is made available to other programs by a software system for linking to the system. In many cases, the abbreviation API (Application Programming Interface) is used.

An APO module is part of an ERP system. Its function is to plan and optimize customer order processing in real time along the entire supply chain. For this purpose, it integrates functions such as simulation, early recognition, bottleneck identification,

The ARM serves to document the requirements on the data structure. This happens mostly with the help of experts, who know the procedures defined in the AAM from their daily practice. See also: AAM

ASD-STAN is the European industrial organization entitled by CEN, the European Standards Committee implemented by the European Commission, as sole provider of European Aerospace Standards. Based upon the principles of openness, transparency and consensus, ASD-STAN develops and publishes prEN standards which subsequently, in cooperation with CEN and its 30 member states community, are transformed into EN standards.  www.asd-stan.org

The 300-series &quot,Abstract Test suites&quot, defines for each AP so-called abstract test cycles, which allow - independent from the implementation method - to check an implementation for norm conformity. See also: AP

The Australian STEP center.

The Boundary Representation (B-Rep) of a solid uses a graph of edges and vertices for its geometric representation.

A B-Spline is a piecewise parametric polynomial curve described in terms of control points and basic functions. B-Splines are the most common and most stable format to represent curves and faces.

Inhouse processing of all processes, e.g. further processing of purchase orders or complaints. The back office acts as an interface to front office systems and ERP solutions.

Continuous, company-wide main data highway. System for the supplying data.

The terms benchmark and benchmarking denote a formalized concept to find possible improvements by comparing the performance features of several comparable objects, processes, or programs.

A best practice is a non-binding recommendation of how to act in a certain situation. It is therefore more flexible than a standard.

The Bill Of Materials collects information about the parts and materials used in a product.