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CALS report issue summaries 1
CALS REPORT ISSUE SUMMARIES
Vol. 1 No. 1, April 1988 through No. 9, December 1988
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CALS Report Vol. 1 No. 1, April 1988
Deputy Secretary of Defense Said Close to Signing Key CALS Memo
Mike McGrath, Director of the DoD CALS office disclosed recently that the
Deputy Secretary of Defense William Taft IV is close to signing an important
CALS memorandum to all Secretaries of Military Departments and Directors of
Defense Agencies. The memo, which has been awaited with great anticipation by
defense contractors and military services, calls for CALS to be implemented in
plans for weapon systems and equipment that will reach production in 1990 and
beyond.
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Lepisto: Budget Cuts to Increase Demand for CALS
"Budget cuts are certain to apply to the DoD program for Computer-Aided
Acquisition and Logistics Support (CALS)", said Bruce Lepisto, Deputy Director
of the DoD CALS Office. "However, it is expected to increase, not decrease
demand for CALS compliance". Mr. Lepisto made these and other remarks at a
recent meeting sponsored by the Society for Computer Aided Engineering of
Rockford, IL.
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Navy Tougher on CAD/CAM Contract Compliance
The Initial Graphics Exchange Specification (IGES) and integration problems
nearly caused an unprecedented IBM contract default for a CAD/CAM system. The
contract in question (no. N60530-86-C-0301, dated Aug. 29, 1986) was
terminated on Feb. 27, 1987, citing 16 contract performance deficiencies.
IBM later settled the dispute by paying $50,000 to the Navy! The Navy, in
return, rescinded the termination and cancelled the contract, wiping the
default from IBM's record.
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Army Releases New CALS Draft RFP
The Army Information Systems Selection and Acquisition Activity has released
the revised Draft Request for Proposal (DRFP) for the Army CALS system. The
DRFP (No. DAEA26-88-R-0002) will establish the baseline for the evolutionary
modernization of the process for the capture, storage and processing of
logistic technical information required to acquire and support weapon systems.
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New CALS Implementation Handbook to be Reviewed at Meeting
The long-awaited version 1.1 of the CALS Implementation Guide for Weapon
Systems Acquisition will be reviewed at a special public meeting at the US
National Bureau of Standards, Gaithersburg, MD, 26 April, 1988. This CALS
handbook is seen as a critical development in CALS use in DoD Contracts, since
it contains specific language requiring delivery of CALS-compliant data. The
handbook guides government specification developers and contract officers in
asking for the correct formats for each type of contract document data
deliverable.
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CALS ISG/Design & Integration Task Group Starts R&M Mechanical Study
Arlington, VA. Larry Griffin of the DoD CALS office and Joe Meredith of
Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co. and Co-Chair of the CALS Industry
Steering Group (ISG)/Design & Integration Task Group held the first meetings
of the Reliability and Maintainability (R&M) Mechanical and Hydromechanical
Study Committee. The R&M Mechanical Study will pattern itself after the CALS
R&M "Summer Study" on Complex Electronics whose final report has just been
drafted. The objective of the R&M Study group is to recommend to DoD the
approaches and options available to implement R&M for Mechanical and
Hydromechanical systems.
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NSIA Software Committee Sponsors CALS Software Task Group
The National Security Industrial Association (NSIA) Software committee
sponsored a special agenda at their annual membership meeting in Fort
Lauderdale to discuss formation of a CALS Software Committee. NSIA also serves
as secretariat for the CALS Industry Task Group.
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Context Announces First Products to Support CALS MIL-STD-1840A
Beaverton, Ore. Context Corporation, a Mentor Graphics company, has announced
its first software product targeted for compliance with CALS MIL-STD-1840A. It
may be the first announced commercial product that will enable organizations to
comprehensively meet rigorous Department of Defense (DoD) requirements for
electronic delivery of new weapons systems documentation.
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SEA Announces New R&M/CAD Relationships
Systems Effectiveness Associates, Inc. (SEA) announced a series of new
business relationships with several CAD vendors and Hardware suppliers
designed to integrate R&M analyses with CAD/CAE electronic design. The CAD/CAE
vendor relationships permit the vendors in many cases to offer SEA R&M
software interfaced to their own proprietary products.
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NCGA INTEGRATE '88 Demonstrates IGES, CGM, and TCP/IP
The National Computer Graphics Association (NCGA's) annual meeting contained
a rare public demonstration of integration of graphics systems using the
Computer Graphics Metafile (CGM). CGM is the format preferred by CALS for
encoding vector data for technical illustrations. CGM is developed and
maintained by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) X3H3
committee, and is called out for use in MIL-STD-1840A and other CALS
documents. It is also specified as an application profile in TOP Version 3.0.
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CALS Calendar
CALS Report Vol. 1 No. 2, May 1988
Costello Says Budget Cuts Will Accelerate CALS
Robert B. Costello, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, indicated in a
private interview that the budget cuts for the Department of Defense will
cause the CALS program to accelerate. Dr. Costello is widely acknowledged as a
prime advocate of reshaping defense departments and industry along automated
paperless lines.
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New CALS Implementation Guide, Standards, and Updates Released
Version 1.1 of the MIL-HDBK-CALS "CALS Program Implementation Guide" was
reviewed at a special public meeting in Gaithersburg, MD, 26 April, 1988 along
with four new CALS standards and updates to another. The meeting was a joint
DOD/Industry conference to provide an update on the CALS program plans and
status, and to introduce the most recent core requirement documents to enter
the review and coordination process.
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IGES/PDES Meeting Reviews IGES Version 4.0
(Washington, DC) The Spring meeting of the IGES committees produced an
endorsement of the latest version of the Initial Graphics Exchange
Specification (IGES) with final approval expected at the July meeting in
Denver. IGES is a set of geometric and structural entities designed to encode
Engineering drawings in a neutral file format for transfer of product
definition data among CAD/CAM systems and application programs. IGES is the
CALS format preferred by MIL-STD-1840A for encoding a product data model of a
design.
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IGES/ PDES Testing Project Demonstrates IGES Verification Testing Methodology
The important IGES Verification Testing Methodology was demonstrated publicly
using Auto-trol Technology Corp (ATTC) hardware and software. The verification
testing methodology is an important step in setting up an independent
verification procedure for CAD/CAM, CAE system's IGES translators. CALS will
depend heavily on independent verification of vendor's claims in qualifying
IGES translators.
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NBS Releases List of Software to Support the Use of IGES
A growing number of software tools are becoming available to assist users in
data exchange via the IGES format. Applications range from plotting of files
to data compression techniques to verification of conformance to the
specification. A more detailed list of software categories includes:
Plotting of IGES data files.
Verification of conformance to specification.
Verification of conformance to application subset.
Prediction of intersystem data exchange completeness.
Comparison of two supposedly identical files.
Data compression of files for telecommunication or archive.
Editing of files for error correction or documentation.
Creation of IGES test cases.
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IGES/PDES Starts Product Logistics Definition Committee
Rick Basharah of Rockwell International's Air Force IDS project convened the
organizational meeting of the IGES/PDES Product Logistics Definition
Committee. IGES and PDES/STEP have historically focused on the description of
design configuration and physical performance, rather than logistic support.
However, PDES/STEP was intended to be a richer product model, rather than a
mere encoding of a geometric drawing. Due to the increased interest in
logistics driven by DoD's CALS program, many firms are turning their attention
from the geometric-oriented models currently developed in IGES and PDES to the
more complex models describing implementation and support.
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NIDDESC Working Group Introduces Structural Data Model
The Navy/Industry Digital Data Exchange Standards Committee (NIDDESC), meeting
in Arlington, VA, reviewed a number of important accomplishments, including
the new structural protocol:
"Reference Model for Ship Structural Systems"
The structural protocol is the first product data model for structures as
applied to naval architecture. NIDDESC is a cooperative, cost-sharing effort
of the Naval Sea System Command and the Marine Industry through the National
Shipbuilding Research Program. The NIDDESC Working Group is Chaired by Dan
Billingsley, of NAVSEA.
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Palmer Calls for Major Enhancements to MIL-D-28000
Mark E. Palmer of the US National Bureau of Standards, called for the
enhancement of MIL-D-28000 to require Application Protocols to enhance the
current Application Subsets. Application Protocols are formal data transfer
procedures negotiated and used by sender and receiver for use in a particular
application. Palmer made his comments at the meeting of the IGES/PDES
Application Validation Committee, which he chairs. MIL-D-28000 is the CALS
standard for delivery of product data models: It currently requires each
application making delivery in IGES to use a small subset of entities to
encode its engineering data. These Application Subsets are defined for
Technical Publications, Engineering Drawings, and Electrical Products. In the
April CALS review in Gaithersburg, Brad Smith announced that inclusion of
application protocols has been adopted as a "long range goal".
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EDI Prepares to use CALS Data
The CALS Report has learned that EDI is being considered as one major mode of
procurement using CALS data. EDI refers to the use of an ANSI standard format
(X12) to encode and transmit business transactions. It specifies formats for
such transactions as request for quotations, response to quotations, purchase
orders, and invoices. Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) is preparing to make
direct use of CALS date delivered to DoD. One segment of these transactions is
being developed to contain the digital product data delivered in compliance to
CALS requirements.
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GAO Releases Report on NAVY CAD-2 Acquisition
Responding to a letter from Bill Chappell, Jr., Chairman, Subcommittee on
Defense Appropriations, the General Accounting Office issued a report critical
of the Navy's planned acquisition of Computer Aided Design/Computer Aided
Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) equipment and asked us to review the Navy's management
of the acquisition. The acquisition is the second major one for the Navy and
is known in the industry as CAD/CAM II or simply, CAD-2. Because the Navy is
in the process of transferring responsibility for the program to Read Admiral
Harry Quast's ADP Information Resources Management program, a release date for
the request for proposals is not certain.
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Editorial: What's Missing from PDES
Many industrial groups, including the CALS community, are counting on the
Product Data Exchange Specification (PDES) to encode a fully functional model
of a product. There is certainly tremendous pressure to make PDES a success.
However, PDES in it current form is not adequate to meet its own goal.
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CALS Calendar
CALS Report Vol. 1 No. 3, June 1988
McGrath: Service Funding for CALS Shows DoD is Committed
"The fact that despite the close scrutiny each services' CALS request
received, their requests were generally funded shows that the services and DoD
are serious about implementing CALS." said Mike McGrath, Director of the DoD
CALS Policy Office. McGrath made his comments at the April CALS review at the
National Bureau of Standards, Gaithersburg, MD. His remarks closed a full day
of presentations on CALS and the efforts of the service, industry and
professional groups contributing to its development.
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CALS Implementation Guide Emphasizes Contract Language, Criteria
The new Version 1.1 of the MIL-HDBK-CALS "CALS Program Implementation Guide"
emphasizes contract language and decision criteria requiring CALS compliance.
The handbook was reviewed at a joint DOD/Industry/NBS Conference in
Gaithersburg, MD, 26 April, 1988 along with four new CALS standards and
updates to another and an update on the CALS program plans and status. The
guide provides both government and industry contract negotiators a concrete
basis for meeting CALS compliance. However, the absence of more detailed
implementation guidance, particularly in how to receive and make use of CALS-
compliant deliverables still troubles many within the services.
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New Standards Introduced for Raster Documents
Two new draft standards were introduced for handling documents stored as
raster images. A raster image of a document encodes the appearance of a
document by dividing it into thousands of picture elements (pixels or pels)
and recording a 1 or 0 depending on whether the pels were mostly black or
white. Raster images can be easily obtained by scanning a document
photoelectrically and computing a raster representation. Tiling is the
subdivision of a larger image into several smaller images and is required to
examine the images on limited memory workstations.
The two new standards:
MIL-R-RASTER, "Raster Graphics Representation in Binary Format, Requirements
for"
TRIF 2.X, "Tiled Raster Interchange Format (TRIF)" (provided for the purpose
of assisting in the coordination of MIL-R-RASTER for Type II [Tiled Raster
Graphics] Data)
describe standard methods of orienting and scanning the document, compressing
and tiling the raster image.
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SGML Specification to cover both Content and Output Format
The new draft CALS Specification:
MIL-D-28001, "Markup Requirements and Generic Style Specifications for
Electronic Printed Output and Exchange of Text"
is now available for public comment. The complicated specification covers both
the tagging of a text document for content and output, and the definition of
generalized document types.
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CGM Standard Seen as Near-Term Format Vector-Data Exchange
Dan Benigni, a computer scientist with NBS, described the Computer Graphics
Metafile (CGM) exchange format as a near term solution to exchanging vector
data, despite it limitations. The draft CALS requirement for CGM is given in:
MIL-D-CGM, "Digital Representation for Communication of Illustration Data: CGM
Application Profile"
CGM describes a document as a "picture", that is, vector and text information
but limited in the data associations important to engineering applications.
Initial Graphics Exchange Specifications (IGES) can encode more associations,
but requires detailed conventions be negotiated to transfer all data. Raster
formats encode a document as an "image", that is, small picture elements
(pels) of light and dark color depending on whether anything can be seen in
that location. Raster images of text loose character and font information and
lines lose all geometric identity. At present time CGM only supports an
uncompressed raster encoding and its too inefficient to use a replacement for
MIL-R-RASTER.
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MIL-D-28000 Amended to Add N/C Subset, Application Protocols
A new amendment to CALS IGES requirements contained a set of detailed changes
to:
MIL-D-28000 "Digital Representation for Communication of Product Data: IGES
Application Subsets"
The changes were announced by Brad Smith, Chairman, IGES/PDES Standards Group.
The changes add a new IGES subset Class IV to support transfer of NC
Manufacturing data, updates for use of IGES version 4.0 and a statement of
intent to move towards use of application protocols.
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MIL-STD-1840A Revised to Cite New Requirements
The primary CALS Requirement,
MIL-STD-1840A, "Automated Interchange of Technical Information"
has been revised to concentrate on generalized delivery of digital data,
moving detailed format requirements to other documents. In particular,
Appendix A (Raster Data Requirements) was deleted, while providing for the
identification of raster file types in an existing header record. It also now
provides the capability to specify "page image" files in raster format.
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PDES Inc. reaches Critical Mass with Seven Members
W.B. (Brad) Rigdon, General Manager, McDonnell Douglas Aerospace Information
Services Co. and Director of PDES, Inc. announced that the PDES Cooperative
has reached the required membership to incorporate. The PDES Cooperative is a
three year project to accelerate the development of the Produce Data Exchange
Specification (PDES). PDES effort has previously continued on a volunteer
basis by the IGES/PDES project.
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CALS Test Network to Do Validation Testing
"CALS Test Network is preparing to perform validation testing of CALS
standards", says Mr. Melvin S. Lammers, of the Air Force Logistics Command.
Mr. Lammers made his comments at the April CALS review meeting. The Air Force
is the lead service on the CALS testing network with support from Lawrence
Livermore National Laboratories (LLNL).
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Services Close to Repository Systems
All four DoD services are on track with development of their planned document
repositories, they reported at the April CALS meeting. The repositories are
considered to be infrastructure improvements vital to receiving and using the
CALS digital data expected from DoD contracts. EDCARS/DSREDS developed by the
Air Force and Army, respectively, will automate the management, storage,
distribution, and revision of engineering drawings. The Navy/DLA planned
EDMICS will extend the repository concept even further to an automated data
base of engineering drawings.
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RAMCAD Meeting Emphasizes AI, Products, and Education
The 4th RAMCAD Technical Interchange Meeting reviewed the status of the
Reliability And Maintainability in Computer-Aided Design (RAMCAD). The RAMCAD
meeting reviewed research results from industy and academia.The RAMCAD Meeting
theme, "RAMCAD - A New Dimension", was in support of the Joint Policy
Coordinating Group (LRDT&E) Sub-Panel on Reliability And Maintainability in
Computer Aided Design. It was co-hosted by the San Diego Chapter of the
Society of Logistics Engineers District 9 Chapter 7, and the San Diego
Engineering Societies.
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Rosetta Technology Announces Design Review Product Based on IGES
Rosetta Technology, Inc. has created three product called PreVIEW, PrePARE,
and PrEDITOR, which permits product data to be passed between various
disciplines during the design phase, using Initial Graphics Exchange Standard
(IGES) as the data format. The producsts access CAD databases generated from
the IGES files for modification, then outputs either the entire database or
just changes for further use. The technique can be used to review and "flavor"
IGES files for use by another CAD/CAM/CAE systems. IGES is preferred by CALS
for the delivery of product model information, but requires that specific
subsets of entities be used for specific applications, regardless of the
entities used in the source CAD system.
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IEEE/PDES Cal Poly Task Team Extension Releases Demo Database
The IEEE/PDES Cal Poly Task Team Extension has released Version 2.00 of their
PDES Demo Database. The IEEE/PDES Cal Poly Task Team Extension Demo Database
is written using dBASE III Plus relational database software (compiled). You
will need to have an IBM PC/XT/AT/PS2 or compatible with graphics adaptor
(CGA/EGA/VGA) to run the demo. The database is populated with real data from
the PDDI project.
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CSA Integrates Logistics & CAD Product Model Data for NAVSEA CALS
Construction Systems Associates, Inc. has used IGES and Numerical
Control Data to build an integrated product data model for a
ship's engine room. The 3-D digital model was built to
demonstrate that a product model could be used not only for
design data management, but could serve thoughout the ship's
lifecycle to plan maintenance and other logistics tasks.
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SAE to Develop Spec For Logistics Data Indexing
The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Computer Integrated Technical
Systems (CITS) Committee has decided to develop a formal specification based
on the concept of Logistics Data Indexing. Logistics Data Indexing (LDI) is a
standard schema designed to structure and identify logistics data and permit
its integration into a common single source logistics data base. The
conceptual design for LDI was done by TRW under contract to the Naval Air
Systems Command. The SAE CITS Committee believes LDI can benefit all
transportation systems, including those purchased by DoD.
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Special Thanks
The CALS Report thanks the Honeywell/Military Avionics Division
for their order of 21 subscriptions and General Electric/Aircraft
Engine Division for their order of 11 subscriptions.
----
CALS Calendar
CALS Report Vol. 1 No. 4, July 1988
Arcieri Says Biggest CALS Issue is Weapon Systems Profit Structure
Joseph D. Arcieri said that the biggest issue that will result from CALS
requirements will be the way in which contractors recover their profits in
procurements. Mr. Arcieri is Director of the DoD Defense Systems Plans and
Analysis Office. Arcieri made his comments at the recent East Coast CALS
Meeting sponsored by the Society of Logistics Engineers (SOLE).
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Army CALS RFP now expected in July
The long awaited Army CALS RFP is now expected about July 1, 1988. The allowed
time for contractor proposals was sixty days in the last draft of the RFP.
Army CALS is considered vital to the implementation of the CALS infrastructure
because the project will define the ADP architecture necessary to integrate
logistics and design. Release of the final RFP was delayed by the recent Taft
restrictions on overtime. The current FY '88 budget problems should not affect
the award of the Army CALS contract, which occurs in FY '89.
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Air Force Approves Funding for AFTOMS Program
The Air Force Technical Order Management System (AFTOMS) has received program
approval of approximately $240 Million for FY' 89-93. The announcement was
made by Col. Eugene Tattini, Director, Plans and Programs, AF Systems Command.
Tattini made his comments at the recent East Coast CALS Meeting sponsored by
the Society of Logistics Engineers (SOLE). AFTOMS will be developed for
general administration, acquisition, management, ordering and distribution of
Technical Orders (Tech Orders or TOs). The AFTOMS Automation plan was
developed by the U.S. Department of Transportation Transportation Systems
Center (TSC) in Cambridge, MA, under the direction of Dr. Robert Smith. The
study was prepared by TSC as part of the Air force CALS program.
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EDI, MODELS, CALS form DoD Business Technology Triad
Jack Bartley, CALS Communication Liaison, said that EDI with MODELS and CALS
form a triad of technologies for transfer of business and technical data
between industry and DoD, and within DoD. Bartly made his comments at the
recent NBS conference, "EDI: Bringing it Together in Government" in
Gaithersburg. Modernization of Defense Logistics Systems (MODELS) is a program
to upgrade the business procedures and software used by the Defense Logistics
Agency. Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) is a standard (ANSI X12) format for
encoding business transactions. "DoD has formalized its commitment to use EDI
X12 with a memo issued by William Taft IV on 24 May," Bartley said later.
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NBS Publishes List of CALS Technical Studies Completed in FY 1987
The US National Bureau of Standards has released a list of the
Technical Studies Completed for the CALS Program in Fiscal Year
1987. The studies are compiled into four volumes. All volumes are
available through National Technical Information Service (NTIS),
703/487-4650
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Government PDES Task Group Reviewing Product Definition Standard
The Government PDES Interagency Task Group has been established to guide
government policy on the Product Data Exchange Standard (PDES). PDES is the
long term CALS standard for encoding product definitions. The Government PDES
Interagency Task Group is chaired by Gary Denman with technical lead by Gerry
Schumacher, both of Wright-Patterson AFB. The task group was formed with
assistance of Russ Shorey of OASD.
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An Analysis: CALS Data Delivery Intensifies Data Modeling Debate
The long term CALS requirement to deliver product definition data has fueled a
long-standing argument over conceptual data modeling. Conceptual data modeling
refers to methods used to design and document product data models in a way
both sender and receiver can understand. CALS intends to require delivery of
or access to a rich database of information defining functions and features of
designed products: A product conceptual data model will describe the contents
of that database and how it can be accessed. Such information models may
become part of the contracts which require data delivery.
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CALS Strategic Plan White Paper Issued by EIA Panel
An Electronic Industries Association (EIA) white paper on CALS
strategic planning has been drafted by an EIA CAD/CAM/CALS
subcommittee panel. The panel (Panel 3) met during the Nov. '87
EIA meeting in Savanna Georgia: The white paper summarizes its
findings. The panel was co-chaired by Dick Summers,
Westinghouse; David Schucker, TRW; Karen Lewis, Planning Research
Corp. and Major Eric Ross, HQAFSC/PLX. The panel's report
presents a "straw man" defining CALS requirements, goals,
implementation and specific cost benefits to both industry and
government. Separate service and DLA plans already exist and
planning continues at the Department of Transportation's
Transportation Research Center in Cambridge, MA.
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SME/CASA Offers support for Product Definition Activities
The Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME)/Computer and Automated Systems
Associated (CASA) is providing support to the CALS activities in ways unique
to its manufacturing background. The recent SME meeting on Product/Process
Definition Data Implementation was the first of its kind. It including
speakers, 57 people participated (17 Speakers) from over 40 organizations
(Govt, contractors, academia, consultants, and vendors). It was organized by
the CASA Product Definition Subcommittee of the CASA Technical Council,
chaired by Rob Carringer.
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INFOLAB Announces New Tool For NIAM Conceptual Modeling
The INFOLAB at Tilburg University has announced the Reference and Idea
Language (RIDL). RIDL was designed to manipulate and define information
structure and contents of the NIAM conceptual modeling methodology of Dr. G.M.
Nijssen. The NIAM methodology (Nijssen Information Analysis Methodology) is
widely used by the Product Data Exchange Standard (PDES) community to define
product data. The RIDL is a "natural" language containing an extensive set of
statements and commands allowing full control over the information flow
between the Conceptual Information Model and the user.
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Control Data Introduces First NIAM - IDEF1x Software Bridge
Control Data Corporation has announced a new micro-based software product that
provides the first direct link between Control Data's NIAM information
modeling technique and the U.S. Air Force's IDEF1x information modeling
standard.
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IDEF Modeling Techniques Supported for International Use
Dan Appleton Company (DACOM) has announced international support for their
IDEF/LEVERAGE products. The Air Force developed IDEF0 and IDEF1X modeling
technology for business activity and data modeling. DACOM's IDEF/LEVERAGE
products are commercial versions of these techniques. Government funded
technology is usually restricted to domestic use for a certain period of time.
The government released IDEF0 and IDEF1X for international use in 1985. DACOM
also will offer training programs to aid manufacturers in installing and using
these methodologies.
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XYVISION Announces Agreement With SOBEMAP For SGML Parser
Xyvision, Inc. has announced an agreement with SOBMAP of Brussels, Belgium,
for the licensing of the SOBEMAP Mark-It SGML Parser Translator. The SGML
parser will be incorporated into Xyvision's CALS Document Exchange product.
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CALS Calendar
CALS Report Vol. 1 No. 5, August 1988
DoD could make GOSIP manditory by 1990:
The Department of Defense policy directive requires Open Systems
Interconnection (OSI) two years after publication of the GOSIP FIPS standard.
The GOSIP FIPS standard is widely expected to follows the June, 1988 release
of the NBS GOSIP document almost immediately. That puts the transition to
GOSIP at mid or late 1990. Although the CALS Communication Subcommittee has
selected OSI, today's CALS implementor can use either OSI or TCP/IP.
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NBS Proposes Federal Standard for OSI
NBS is asking for comments on a proposed Federal Information Processing
Standard (FIPS) which adopts the Government Open Systems Interconnection
Profile (GOSIP). FIPS are developed by NBS for use by the federal government.
GOSIP has had two rounds of comments in the last year. Version 1.0 of GOSIP is
expected to be issued as a FIPS standard this summer. DoD has identified GOSIP
as a co-standard with TCP/IP, used in the Defense Data Network (DDN). NATO
allies are more focussed on GOSIP, viewing TCP/IP as a "US" standard.
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U.S. Air Force/Industry Coalition Demonstrates OSI Integration
The U.S. Air Force led an industry coalition in a successfule demonstration of
Open systems Interconnection (OSI) at the SME Enterprise '88 Event in
Baltimore. The demonstration used the show's Manufacturing Automation Protocol
(MAP) and Technical and Office Protocols (TOP) to simulate Air Force weapon
systems production coordination among prime contractors and subcontractors for
design, production and logistics support.
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CALS Information Integration Group to Develop CALS Data Dictionary Structure
Carol Tierney of General Dynamics/Land Systems and Chairman of the CALS
Information Integration Working Group outlined plans for her subcommittee to
develop a CALS data dictionary structure. "We will try to define at least the
major structure of CALS data." A completed data dictionary usable by all
contractors is seen as vital to CALS implementation.
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CGM Expert development needed for CGM CALS profile
Lofton Henderson, President, Henderson Software, outlined the development work
being done to produce a CALS profile for Computer Graphic Metafile (CGM). CGM
is a vector and format preserving excange format for pictures and
illustrations. It lacks the semantic detail of IGES and other product
definition formats, but permits editing, refonting, scaling and other
revisions. "CGM specifices complete syntax but has incomplete semantics," said
Henderson, "It could define multiple correct pictures of single CAD DB." It is
gaining wide acceptance as a low-level drawing transfer format.
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Pechersky Sees Positive ROI for CALS Volunteers
The CALS Report has interview Paul N. Pechersky, Corporate Director of
Management Information Systems at E-Systems, and co-chairs the Digital
Information Interchange Working Group of the CALS Industry Steering Group.
Paul was interviewed at the completion of a series of task working group
committee meetings at the National Bureau of Standards in mid June, 1988.
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CALS Industry Steering Group
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GCA Shaping SGML Development, Validation
Graphic Communications Association (GCA) is an association of diverse firms in
the graphic communications industry which facilitates the adoption and
management of new technologies for mutual benefit. The GCA GENCODE committee
was formed to solve the problem of transferring text from one publishing
system to another. CGA GENCODE Committee was responsible for SGML about 12
years ago. The committee's work was assummed by the ASNI X3V1.8 committee
(SGML), who developed the standard. Accepted by ISO in October of 1986, SGML
is still a major focus for GCA, which provides SGML development, tutorials and
co-sponsored events.
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MRSA to Simplify LSAR for CALS Integration
The CALS Report has learned that the US Army AMC/Materiel Readiness Support
Activity (MRSA) is planning a major revision to the structure of Logistics
Support Analysis Record (LSAR) data. MRSA is the DoD organization which
supports the Joint Services LSAR ADP software. The LSAR master file format
defined in MIL-STD-1388-2A is the standard format for LSA data delivery in DoD
contracts.
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MRSA Lists 39 Validated LSAR ADP Systems
The US Army AMC/Materiel Readiness Support Activity (MRSA) now lists 39
validated LSAR ADP systems. MRSA validates, but does not certify LSAR
software. Validation confirms that software produces correct outputs from test
inputs, certification implies that internal algorithms are correct. MRSA
validation is required to use a particular LSAR software product on a DoD
contract.
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CALS Calendar
CALS Report Vol. 1 No. 6, September 1988
Deputy Secretary of Defense Taft Signs Memo Implementing CALS
William H. Taft, IV, Deputy Secretary of Defense, has signed a memorandum
implementing CALS in plans for new weapon systems and related major equipment
items. The memorandum was addressed to the Secretaries of the military
departments and the Director of the Defense Logistics Agency. The memo, which
was expected last April, was intensively reviewed throughout DoD and relevant
agencies of the Federal Government, causing delay. A full copy of the memo is
enclosed in this issue.
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Navy Secretary Ball Calls RAMP Technology "Revolutionary"
Secretary of the Navy William L. Ball, III, termed the Rapid Acquisition of
Manufactured Parts (RAMP) program "a revolution" in manufacturing technology.
Secretary Ball made his comments at the Dedication of the RAMP facility in N.
Charleston, SC in July. The RAMP program will build the first Computer-
Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) facility which uses PDES data to direct
manufacturing steps. Unlike most CIM cells, the electrical or mechanical parts
can be general in nature, rather than belonging to a narrow family of similar
designs.
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SCRA to Host PDES, Inc. Project
The South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA) has been officially selected as
the host contractor for the PDES, Inc. R&D project. The objectives of PDES,
Inc. are to develop validated specifications (information models) and
verification and validation software for the communication of digital product
definition within a heterogeneous computing system environment. The PDES, Inc.
project will accelerate the work on PDES by developing parsers and
applications: Software will be shared by stockholders while application
information models will be submitted to the IGES/PDES project for
consideration as standards.
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PDES Ad Hoc Group Frustrated in Correlation of Information Modeling Methods
An ad hoc committee formed within the PDES Logical Layer Committee, to study
practices which could improve translation of one PDES data model format into
another was terminated after only one session. The committee felt that the
investment of resources was greater than they could commit to on an ad hoc
basis. PDES information models are expected to play a significant role in CALS
data base definition and queries. PDES formats, standards, and techniques are
expected to replace IGES for product model data delivery.
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Interview: Adams Sees New Industry Supporting CALS Compliance
Charles R. Adams is President of West Coast Information Systems, Inc. of
Walnut Creek, CA. WESCO is the firm writing MIL-R-RASTER and is also under
contract to Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories to develop the platform
for CALS RASTER testing.
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European CALS Meeting a Success
Delegates gathered in Frankfurt, West Germany in June to review CALS standards
and requirements and their impact on NATO government forces and defense
establishments. The Conference was sponsored by Battelle's European operation
headed by Bodo Rudiger.
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Multi-Association Task Group Asks Emphasis on R&M Contract Requirements
The Multi-Association (AIA, EIA, NSIA) Task Group on IR&D/B&P has asked the
CALS Integration Task Group for more emphasis on Logistic Requirements in
procurement contracts and new categories of IR&D. The recommendation came in
response to a call by the CALS R&M Summer Study on Complex Electronics for
more IR&D attention to R&M/CAD issues. The report of the CALS R&M Summer Study
on Complex Electronics "Integration of R&M Into The Automated Design Process"
was circulated to the appropriate committees of EIA and to the Multi-
Association Task Group on IR&D/B&P. The two groups bristled at DoD
interference with "independent" R&D, a continuing sore point with government
contractors, and with DoD intrusion into methodology. The recommendation for a
contract requirement, arms-length approach contrasts with the directing and
guiding nature of the CALS integration strategy.
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STS Awarded FEDLINK/Army Contract for Automatic CALS SGML Markup
STS Information Systems, Inc. has been awarded a $600,000 task order contract
by the Army Publishing and Printing Agency in support of the 400-S program.
This is the first Computer-aided Acquisition and Logistics Support (CALS)
compliant contract that will demonstrate the flexibility of the CALS standards
for a non-weapon system.
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Apollo Forms CALS Solution Group
Apollo Computer, Inc. has announced formation of a CALS Solution Group at the
TechDoc Twelve Conference in San Diego. A seminar coinciding with the meeting
outlined how the group is combining resources to meet CALS requirements. A
second seminar will be held at the time of the NBS EXPO in October. A
November seminar is being planned for the Boston area.
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IDEEL Targets DoD RAMCAD/CALS Initiatives
Automated Images demonstrated the integration of design engineering and
predictive analysis processes with its IDEEL product line targeting the
Department of Defense (DoD) CALS and RAMCAD initiatives. The goal of CALS is
to automate logistics support processes and shorten the length of the defense
systems development cycle.
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First CGM Test Suite Available for CGM Standard
CGM Technology Software has announced availability of the first test suite for
users and implementers of CGM interpreters software. CGM Technology Software
is a joint venture of Peter R. Bono Associates, Inc., and Henderson Software.
The CGM Test Set Volume 1 (TM) is designed for use by software developers to
test their ability to correctly interpret and display picture files conforming
to the ANSI Standard Graphics Metafile (ANSI/X3.122; ISO 8632).
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TOP Spec Supports CALS Product Data Exchange with IGES Application Profile
MAP/TOP Users Group has recently released Revision 3.0 to the Technical and
Office Protocol (TOP) Specification to support CALS Product Data Exchange
(PDE) using the IGES Application Profile. The TOP Product Data Exchange
Subcommittee made the changes to the TOP spec to be aligned with the CALS
requirements of MIL-M-28000 and to extend PDE capabilities for international
use. The changes included increased functionality and IGES subsets.
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CALS/ISG Acquisition Task Group Formed Under H. J. Coreale of McDonnell Douglas
Mr. Correale recently accepted chairmanship of the CALS Industry Steering
Group Acquisition Committee which consists of the following working groups:
Contract Definition, CALS Benefits, Industry Survey and Contract Methodology.
At the present time, Dick Richards is heading up the CALS Benefits working
group activities and Dick Summers has conducted a survey of CALS capabilities.
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Order Government Specifications & Standards by Phone
Emergency requests for specifications and standards may now be ordered through
Navy's new automated Telephone Order Entry System (TOES). This service allows
you to place an order or follow-up on a previously placed order directly into
the Navy Print On Demand System (NPODS).
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EDITORIAL: Readiness and the CALS Information Architecture
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CALS Calendar
