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CALS report issue summaries 2
CALS REPORT ISSUE SUMMARIES
Vol. 1 No. 7, October 1988 through No. 9, December 1988
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CALS Report Vol. 1 No. 7, October 1988
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Costello Identifies Strong Industrial Base as Deterrent
In an important report and keynote address on the subject, Under Secretary of
Defense (Acquisition) Robert Costello has identified the need for a strong US
industrial base as a clear deterrent to war and failing that, essential in
fighting it. The report, entitled, "Bolstering Defense Industrial
Competitiveness," lists 15 recommendations, some of which are already being
implemented. The recommendations and progress were reiterated in a keynote
address at the American Defense Preparedness Association Conference on North
American Defense Industrial Strategy. Industry preparations to be CALS-
compliant in data deliverables and R&M/CAD concurrent engineering are viewed
as one component of an overall strategy of strengthening industry's quality,
efficiency, and mobilization capabilities. Said Costello, "The defense
industry is a benefit to a peacetime economy ...<rather than>...a drain on the
economy."
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Defense Industrial Network Using CALS-type Data
The Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) has developed Defense Industrial
Network (DINET),a system which permits mutual impact studies of design choices
and the supplying industrial base. Danal H. Dennison, Program Manager,
explained that DINET uses the parts breakdown of a weapon system and ties it
to another contractor/subcontractor breakdown to assess the capability of the
US industrial base to supply vital parts and materiel during various
scenarios. The system was demonstrated at the American Defense Preparedness
Association (ADPA) 1988 Conference on Defense Industrial Strategy.
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CALS Task Group Reviews Industry Comments on CALS Standards
CALS Industry Standards Working Group has reviewed extensive industry comments
on the CALS Standards currently released for public review. These standards
are:
MIL-STD-1840A, Change Notice 1
MIL-D-28000, Amendment 1
MIL-HDBK-CALS (draft)
MIL-D-CGM (draft)
MIL-R-RASTER (draft)
TRIF 2.X (draft)
Over 27 companies and professional organizations returned comments on the
standards. The two-day review was chaired by George F. Jenkins of Vitro
Corporation.
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An Analysis: SGML and ODA/ODIF Impact CALS Standards Unevenly
The only controversy which arose out of the industry task group review of the
CALS standards is the apparent collision between the ISO 8879 Standard
Generalized Markup Language (SGML) representation of documents required in
MIL-D-28001 and ISO 8613, Office Document Architecture (ODA) representation
implicit in MIL-R-RASTER and TRIF. Because of these differences in approach,
it seems that SGML and ODA will influence CALS standards unevenly and perhaps
in contradiction.
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CALS Security Task Group Sees Existing Security Methods OK for Phase I
The CALS Security Task Group has reported to the CALS Industry Steering Group
that Phase I CALS standards require no modifications to impose levels of
security typically found in current practice. This level of security requires
a total document be secure, if any diagram, component, paragraph, or other
entity in the document is secure. The task group sees more complex security
requirements, and thus, changes to CALS standards, arising when CALS Phase II
integration and access is required.
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SRI Security Expert Says Some CALS Access Could Compromise Secure Data Bases
Dr. Matthew Morgenstern of Standford Research Institute told the CALS Security
Task Group that some types of data base access could compromise security, even
if queries were restricted to unclassified data. Dr. Morgenstern made his
comments during and following a briefing on Security problems related to data
inference and aggregation for the CALS Security Task Group. Morgenstern said
that an intruder could use his knowledge of data relationships in the data
base application to reconstruct or "infer" the missing data. DoD has been
worried that data which is unclassified in small pieces might need more
security if aggregated together. Inference of missing data adds a new
dimension to the security problem.
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TECHDOC 12 Dominated by CALS MIL-M-28001 SGML Standard
TECHDOC 12, the Graphic Communications Association (GCA) annual review of
technical publishing technology, was dominated by the growing interest in CALS
and its use of SGML in MIL-D-28000. CGA is a long supporter of the SGML ISO
standard. TECHDOC has become a forum for using SGML in tech pubs.
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Navy Discloses Successful Automatic SMGL Markup Demonstration
The US Navy has successfully demonstrated automatic SMGL markup using existing
commercial hardware and software. The demonstration results were reported at
TECHDOC 12 in San Diego. The demonstration may be the first automatic SGML
markup of a DoD manual starting with the paper document.
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EIS Project Develops Object Oriented Data Exchange Language
The Air Force Engineering Information System (EIS) has developed an Object
Oriented Data Language (OODL) for encoding engineering design information for
data exchange. Although OODL is initially used for transfer of electrical
information, it is general and can be used in any discipline. EIS is a CALS
project expected to contribute new standards for data exchange and CAE
software integration.
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MIL STD 454 to Require VHDL for Application-Specific Micro-Electronics
The forthcoming, MIL STD 454 will Require VLSI Hardware Definition Language
(VHDL) for Application-Specific Micro-Electronics. Requirement 64 of that
standards requires the delivery of a functional description of application-
specific mirco-electronics encoded in VHDL for delivery to DoD. MIL STD 454
covers all electronic hardware: Requirement 64 covers micro-electronics. MIL-
STD-454 is scheduled to be effective 20 September, 1988 and is currently being
published.
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GOSIP Approved as New FIPS Standard
The Secretary of Commerce has approved a new standard, which is being
published as FIPS PUB 146, Government Opens Systems Interconnection Profile
(GOSIP). This new standard supersedes FIP PUB 98, which is withdrawn from the
FIPS series. Federal Information Processing Standards Publications (FIP PUBS)
are issued by the National Bureau of Standards after approval by the Secretary
of Commerce. This step is important because DoD is committed to use GOSIP two
years after its publication as a FIPS standard (see CALS Report, August,
1988).
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European Consortium Plans Secure CALS Network
A Consortium of European defense contractors, vendors, and universities is
planning a long-term development program for a European Integrated Information
Services System (EIISS) for European Secure Computer-aided Acquisition and
Logistics Support (ESCALS). According to Consortium Co-ordinator, John Beer of
Sydney Communications Ltd., EIISS ESCALS development will begin with a sub-
system Pilot Demonstrator Project as part of a European Community Information
Service (PDP.ECIS).
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PDES Logistics Definition Committee nears completion of Planning Model
The PDES Logistics Definition Committee is close to completion of a high level
IDEF planning model of product logistics information. IDEF Planning models
begin with enterprise functions (IDEF0 model) and develop a corresponding
information structure and content (IDEF1x model). The IDEF0 model identifies
Input, Control, Output, and Mechanism (ICOM) information and processes, IDEF1x
defines the information structures. Information items identified in one model
are then refined in another and vice versa. In this way, the planning model
evolves into an accurate information model within a given discipline.
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GE and Context present LSAR Report/Tech Pub Integration at TECHDOC 12
At the recent San Diego TECHDOC 12 show, Ron Harlow from GE Huntsville and
Bruce A. Foster of Context presented their implementation of a CALS compatible
Electronic Technical Publishing (ETP) system. The system was integrated with
the Logistic Support Analysis Record (LSAR) data base summary reports. It
represents one method of integrating commercial technical publication system
with the output of LSA activities.
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XEROX TO Acquire Crowntek/CCA Unit Specializing in Database Software
Xerox Corporation and Crowntek announced the signing of a definitive agreement
by which Xerox would acquire a Crowntek unit that specializes in the research
and development of database software systems. The unit is the Advanced
Information Technology Division (AITD) of Crowntek's subsidiary, Computer
Corporation of America (CCA). Financial terms of the agreement were not
disclosed. Xerox said it expects to complete the acquisition in the third
quarter. The acquisition seems to indicate a Xerox strategy of supporting more
intelligent and integrated documents of the type envisioned for CALS.
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Five Unisys UNIX OS-Based Microcomputers Qualify for First-Day X/OPEN Compliance
First-day X/Open brand compliance for Unisys U 5000 Series and U 6000 Series
UNIX OS-based super microcomputers was announced by Jerry L Peterson, vice
president of Unisys Entry Level and Department Systems.
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CALS Calendar
CALS Report Vol. 1 No. 8, November 1988
Katzen: Costello and I will be looking for CALS Compliance
Jack Katzen, Assistant Secretary of Defense (Production and Logistics), OASD,
promised the personal interest of Robert B. Costello, Undersecretary of
Defense (Acquisition) in CALS compliance, particularly in data sharing and
integration, and concurrent engineering. Concurrent engineering predicts the
demand for logistic resources of a design concurrently with its physical
performance. Data sharing between integrated software tools is seen as vital
to making such performance predictions concurrent.
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Concurrent Engineering Dominates CALS EXPO '88 Technical Discussion
The Phase II emphasis on shared data and concurrent engineering dominated the
technical program at the sellout CALS EXPO '88. Phase I of CALS emphasized
standards for data exchange and delivery. The standards are now viewed as
enabling technologies, permitting Phase II efforts to proceed.
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Consensus: Today's Commercial IGES Software Not Compliant With CALS
Several respected industry and government presenters at the CALS EXPO
indicated that commercial IGES translators lack features needed for full
compliance with CALS MIL-D-28000 IGES subsets. The remarks were made by
several who spoke from direct project experience with IGES, in sharp contrast
to many positive endorsements by other speakers.
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Sellout CALS EXPO '88 Pleases DoD, Vendors, and Attendees
Enthusiasm was evident at the sellout CALS EXPO '88. The CALS EXPO '88 was
held in Gathersburg, MD and hosted by National Institute of Standards and
Technology (NIST), formerly NBS. The program was three days of presentations
and briefings, running simultaneously with demonstrations of service efforts
and commercial products in a separate exhibit.
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NIST Establishes National PDES Testbed
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Defense
Department's Computer-Aided Acquisition and Logistic Support (CALS) Office
announced that NIST will develop a National PDES Testbed facility. The
facility will test implementations of the Product Data Exchange Specification
(PDES) and is expected to speed the development and use of PDES in computer-
integrated design, manufacturing, and logistics processes. PDES is under
development by a diverse group of government agencies, academic researchers,
private companies, and an industry-funded cooperative called PDES, Inc. Many
PDES experts have noted the need for uniform testing of results from all
groups. The announcement was made at the 1988 CALS EXPO.
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CALS International Task Group Formed
The CALS Industry Steering has formed an International Task Group to
facilitate international cooperation on CALS issues. The task group recognizes
that US requirements for defense purposes must be coordinated on an
international basis.
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CALS Small Business Committee Formed
A small business committee has been formed by the CALS Industry Steering Group
to assess the impact of CALS concepts and standards on their products and
business practices. The committee is a response to industry and DoD concerns
that CALS implementation may adversely effect small business, unless proper
safeguards are put in place.
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NIST Preparing Draft FIPS for MIL-M-38784 Compliant ODA Profile
A profile for Office Document Architecture (ODA) has been drafted for use as a
Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) by National Institute for
Standards and Technology (NIST). The profile will comply with MIL-M-38784,
which details to layout and appearance of military technical manuals. The CALS
standard MIL-M-28001 Appendix C (Output Specification or OS) is also designed
to comply with the same standard. In some organizations (e.g. CCITT), Office
Document Architecture is called Open Document Architecture.
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ANSI Committee to Harmonize Electronic Product Definition Standards
With help from the Electronic Industry Association (EIA) the American National
Standards Institute (ANSI) has established an ad hoc committee to consider the
need for harmonization of electronic product definition standards. At the
first meeting in May, it was agreed to establish a limited scope, as hoc
committee to address the overlapping electronic product definition standards
problem, to identify those problems and to develop a recommended plan for
harmonization. The ANSI committee will coordinate with ongoing CALS efforts in
the same area.
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Air Force/Industry Coalition Demonstrates IISS at CALS EXPO '88
The Air Force/Industry Coalition used their IISS research system to
demonstrate the integrated use of commercial CAD/CAM/CAE tools on distributed,
heterogeneous hardware, software and product data. The Air force is
participating in CALS from both a user of the technology and as an
accelerating force for the implementation of the CALS standards. The Air
Force/Industry Coalition demonstrates the integration of design,
manufacturing, and logistics support systems. Although patterned after the
demonstration at Enterprise '88 (see CALS Report, August, 1988, p 4) it
stressed CALS, rather than OSI standards. The end-to-end demonstration was a
snapshot of the status of current technology for CALS' current and future
standards.
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Air Force On-Line Information System to Buy CALS Compliant ADP Systems
The Air Force On-Line Information System (OLIS) will promote the
commercialization of CALS compliant hardware and software by direct buying of
commercially available products. Selected R&D tasks will be used to fill any
gaps in technology. OLIS will complete the spinoff of certain Air Force CALS-
related development programs and incorporate other interoperability standards.
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Congress Told CALS Will Improve Industrial Base Response
DoD foresees benefits through improved responsiveness of the industrial base
by development of integrated design and manufacturing capabilities, and by
industry networks to build and support weapon systems based on digital product
descriptions. DoD made their comments in their annual report to congress on
Computer-aided Acquisition and Logistic Support (CALS). According to the
report, implementation of CALS is already leading to a major impact on the way
DoD and Industry conduct business.
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CALS Oversight Scope, Budget Changed for FY 1989
The scope of CALS steering group oversight was changed for FY 1989 in several
ways. A number of projects related to line maintenance and procurement were
lost, while all work on concurrent engineering were gained. The change in
scope resulted in a smaller budget attributed directly to CALS.
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McDonnell Aircraft, XYVision to Test MIL-STD-1840A with Air Force/CTN
McDonnell and Xyvision, Inc., announced at the CALS EXPO '88 that they will
transmit a large technical manual to the Air Force with evaluation by the CALS
Test Network (CTN). The test is one of the first commitments to CTN testing,
and is distinguished by the size and complexity of the document to be tested.
Test results are scheduled for release in the first quarter of 1989.
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IRDS Guide Published
An application guide to the use of the Information Resource Dictionary System
(IRDS) has been announced by NIST. The guide, NBS Spec. Pub. 500-152, "Guide
to Information Resource Dictionary System Applications: General Concepts and
Strategic Systems Planning". The guide explains how an Information Resource
Dictionary (IRD) can be used to support information management activities
throughout the life cycle of a system.
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Errata
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CALS Calendar
CALS Report Vol. 1 No. 9, December 1988
PDES Logistics Application Model to Implement Full MIL-STD-1388
According to Rick Bshara, Chairman of the PDES Logistics Subcommittee, the
final PDES Logistics application model should contain the data and
relationships now in MIL-STD-1388 2A. Bshara was questioned at the recent
IGES/PDES meeting at W. Palm Beach, FL. As reported earlier, the PDES
Logistics Committee was completing a high-level planning model at that
meeting. The completed high level planning model is available for public
comment.
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IGES/PDES Approves PDES Document for Review
The Edit Committee of the IGES/PDES project approved a PDES/STEP document for
consideration by the International Standards Organization (ISO) at its
upcoming meeting in Tokyo. ISO consideration and adoption is consideration
important for CALS because DoD prefers to adopt international standards. ISO
adoption of the document as a total approach is hoped for. PDES development in
the US will continue and may be published as a separate ANSI standard.
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IGES Test Suite Ready for Beta Testing
The IGES/PDES Testing Committee has finished work on a suite of technical
documents. The suite was readied at the recent IGES/PDES meeting at W. Palm
Beach, FL. The completion of the test protocol is important to uniform testing
of IGES translators and eventual certification of testing laboratories.
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IGES/PDES Project Creates Dictionary Committee
The IGES/PDES Project has created a Dictionary Ad Hoc Committee to control the
terms and documentation used in PDES. The committee, chaired by Joan Tyler of
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) began work with a two
day workshop in September.
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MIL-M-28001 Review Recommends Registry of Service-Unique Applications
The Industry Steering Group Standards Working Group has recommended registry
of Service-Unique applications of MIL-M-28001. The move came in response to
comments on MIL-M-28001 by NAVSEA. If included in the final version, it would
be a major tightening of the value of MIL-M-28001 for contractual use.
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MIL-M-28001 Output Specification Completion Restrained in Wait for DSSSL
The objectives set for Appendix B (old Appendix C) Output Specification may be
loosened in hopes that the ISO standard, Document Style, Semantics, and
Specification Language (DSSSL) will be finalized. The Output Spec (OS) was the
original reason that MIL-M-28001 was delayed in its release. The OS will now
be an English language commentary that is optional to the user. The OS will
be a machine-readable tags but will not be a fully validated tag set. The
decision was made during recent task group reviews of industry and government
comments.
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Battelle, Advanced Technology, SAIC named NIST CALS Contractors.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has awarded CALS
master multiple contracts to three firms:
Battelle Memorial Institute
Advanced Technology
Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC)
The three firms will bid competitively as NIST CALS Contractors on various
CALS tasks during the year.
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Mechanical R&M Study Group Report Close to Completion
The R&M Mechanical Study Group (RMMSG) is nearing completion of its study
report. Mechanical Reliability and Maintainability considerations differ from
those of electronic systems because electronic systems consist of
standardized, off-the-shelf components that have relatively predictable and
independent failure rates. Hence, the report will differ from the preceding
complex electronics study completed earlier.
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SQL Test Package Available From NIST
A package of tests to help users and vendors determine compliance with a new
Federal Information Processing Standard Publication (FIPSPUB) 127 for the
Database Language SQL is available for purchase from NBS. SQL is a voluntary
industry standard language used to develop database management system
applications. FIPSPUB 127 requires federal agencies to implement SQL in
relational database management system applications acquired or developed after
August 3, 1988. The test suite will help both users and vendors meet the
standard. Database management systems can save time and money by making data,
application programs, and trained users "portable" from one system to another.
The NBS test package includes six types of tests in three programming
languages -- C, FORTRAN, and COBOL.
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Meadlock Favors Any Standard Imposed on All Vendors Equally
James Meadlock, President and Chairman of the Board, Intergraph Corporation,
said that he would agree to any single data exchange standard as long as all
vendors were required to use it. Meadlock made his comments at Autofact '88 in
Chicago. The position endorsing IGES or any other universal standard comes
from a company which so dominated certain application areas that its own
proprietary format, Standard Interchange Format (SIF), still serves as the de
facto data exchange format for those disciplines. "We've accepted the fact
that many of our customers want IGES translators," said Meadlock, "and we
satisfy their needs."
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Murrin Says Concurrent Engineering a "Direct Answer" to Foreign Competition
Prof. Tom Murrin, Chairman of DoD's new Defense Manufacturing Board, called
concurrent engineering a "direct answer" to the threat of foreign competition.
Murrin made his comments in a plenary session speech at Autofact '88 in
Chicago. One of the major new initiatives in DoD is concurrent engineering,
which is part of CALS Phase II.
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SME Plans to Develop Manufacturing Engineers as Integrators, not Specialists
As a result of a broad study of their profession, the Society of Manufacturing
Engineers (SME) will refocus the image and career of manufacturing engineers
to be general integrators of manufacturing, design, and management systems.
The report, entitled Profile 21, was released at the SME Autofact '88 in
Chicago. SME commissioned the study to define the future direction of the
profession. The new direction is of interest, because it reflects a growing
industrial interest in concurrent engineering which would integrate design,
manufacturing and other discipline analyses.
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AIA Panel to Assess CALS Impact on MIS
An Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) panel has been formed to assess the
impact of CALS access on the traditional Management Information Systems (MIS)
function. The panel was formed as part of the Digital Information Subcommittee
of the Information Technology Committee (ITC). The subcommittee is chaired by
Paul Pechersky, who also chairs the CALS Digital Information Interchange
Subcommittee. The panel is chaired by Mr. Jan Heise, of Harris Corporation.
The ITC is composed of the Chief Information Officers of AIA Member Companies.
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AutoFact '88 Session Highlights CALS Benefits to All Manufacturers
The appeal of CALS is broader than defense weapon systems, concluded a panel
at Autofact '88. Autofact '88 is considered the premier conference and
exhibition for Manufacturing automation technology. Ivan J. Blum, VP of D.
Appleton Co., chaired the session, attended by over 150 manufacturing
professionals.
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Deere Tech Services to be Systems Integrator for AutoFact '89 Exhibit
SME has selected Deere Tech Services to be the systems integrator in the
"Partnership for Integration" exhibit to debut at AutoFact '89 in Detroit. The
partnership for integration exhibit team will coordinate 20 or more industry
suppliers of computer communication, factory automation, software and related
services to build an 8000 sq. ft., working, state-of-the-art CIM facility.
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Big 8 Accounting Firms Review CALS Incentives
In a special briefing following Autofact '88 in Chicago, the Big 8 accounting
firms reviewed the CALS objectives and strategies. The Big 8 accounting firms
have both accounting, tax and management consulting expertise. They provide
these services to both government and industry. Ivan J. Blum, VP of D.
Appleton Co., organized and chaired the meeting, entitled, "CALS Benefits
Strategy & Implementation Conference."
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COS and SPAG Announce Cooperative Agreement on OSI Testing
Brussels, Belgium - September 15, 1988 - In a display of trans-Atlantic
harmony, the US based Corporation for Open Systems (COS) International and the
European based Standards Promotion and Application Group (SPAG) Services SA
met today in a first ever joint Board of Directors meeting. At a press
briefing after the meeting, COS and SPAG announced actions designed to
accelerate the introduction of OSI-MAP/TOP 3.0 products worldwide.
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ASYST Technologies Introduces Relationally-Based Central Repository
ASYST Technologies has introduced THE INTEGRATER tm Central Repository
Facility, the first relationally-based repository that provides instant access
and sharing of all systems development specifications for the entire data
processing department. The central repository concept selects software from a
single collection through its specification. A central repository makes
software more accessible and reusable and is helpful to computer-aided
software engineering (CASE) methodologies. CASE technology is often viewed as
an alternative approach to conceptual information modeling for systems
engineering, though its application has been primarily software.
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Editorial: CALS Phase 1 is a Fait Accompli
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Letters to the Editor
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Standards Ordering Points
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CALS Calendar
