Prototype Implementation Based on the Machine Shop Information Model

Interoperability between manufacturing software applications and simulation is currently extremely limited. A machine shop information model has been developed at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) as a part of system interoperability efforts. The primary objective is to develop a standard-data-interface structure for exchanging shop data among various manufacturing software applications, including simulation. The information model, when completed, will satisfy the following needs: 1) to support data requirements for the entire simulation of manufacturing life cycle, 2) to enable data exchange between simulation and other manufacturing software for machine shops, 3) to provide for the construction of machine shop simulators, and 4) to support testing and evaluation of machine shops’ manufacturing software. The model is presented in both graphical form, in UML (Unified Modeling Language), and textual form, in XML (eXtensible Markup Language). The interface data include organizations, calendars, work, resources, schedules, parts, and process plans within a machine shop environment. To facilitate the implementation of the machine shop information model, custom-built software programs are being developed at NIST. The development of these software applications has been executed using document object model, XML path language, open database connectivity database engine, and machine shop information model’s C++ data structures. A graphical user interface (GUI) system has also been generated to execute various functions, such as import, export, translator execution, and simulation execution. This paper presents research activities performed at NIST to support the implementation of the machine shop information model. Topics included in this paper are database development, parsers and translator development, prototype implementation, and standardization.