All Presentation Material Copyright Eurostep Limited
PLCS and DEXs
Nigel ShawEurostep Limited
All Presentation Material Copyright Eurostep Limited
Who am I?
• Nigel Shaw– Managing Director, Eurostep Limited– Director, Eurostep Group AB
• Technical Architect for ISO 10303-239• Member OASIS PLCS Technical Oversight
Group• Background
– Chair STEP Editing committee (1989-1993)– Chair ProSTEP Round Table for CAD (1995-1999)– Lead modeller - NATO Product Data Model
All Presentation Material Copyright Eurostep Limited
What is the Business problem?
Current Logistics information management:• Stove piped systems• Stove piped standards
– Acquisition biased – not through-life
• Inflexible with respect to changing processes– Different ways of doing business
• Inability to use feedback – To improve support processes– To improve designs in and across projects
• No audit/traceability
All Presentation Material Copyright Eurostep Limited
How does it relate to PBL?
• Industry need accurate, up-to-date information to enable you to maximize your margin in successfully delivering against PBL contracts
• Customers need to contract for and receive consistent information to assess delivery and performance– And to carry over learning between
projects
PBL = Performance Based Logistics = Support Options Matrix
All Presentation Material Copyright Eurostep Limited
PLCS Activity ModelUSED AT: AUTHOR: PLCS, Inc DATE:
REV:PROJECT: ISO 10303-239 Annex F
07/11/2002
15/10/2003
NOTES: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
WORKING
DRAFT
RECOMMENDED
PUBLICATION
READER DATE CONTEXT:
TOP
NODE: TITLE: NUMBER:Provide through life support for productA-0
0£0
Provide through life support for product
NOTE 1: Dashed ( - - - - ) arrows represent physical items (blue where diagrams are reproduced in colour). All other arrows represent information.
PURPOSE: To represent the activities and information flows supported by Application Protocol 239Product Life Cycle Support (PLCS).The set of products to be supported is known asthe "product in focus" or PIF.
VIEWPOINT: The life-cycle owner who acquires the product-in-focus and strives to maximise value over the complete life cycle of the product, by taking whatever actions are necessary to deliver the required operational capability at minimum life cycle cost.
NOTE 3: APSI = assured product & support information
NOTE 2: All tunnelled arrows in this modelapply to all decompositions of the applicablebox.
product needing support
support element
allocated support requirements
transaction replies
feedback
product & support element information
operator feedback *
information from other systems
information technology service orinfrastructure
operatingschedule
supportinfrastructure
life cycledirective *
standardcommercialtransaction set
supported product
disposed element
APSI and related information
rejected issue or change
transaction request
information to system operator *
request to life cycle owner
change directive
Short path - Short path -
Long path - Long path -
All Presentation Material Copyright Eurostep Limited
All Presentation Material Copyright Eurostep Limited
How does the contracted party involved in PBL demonstrate that they have satisfied the contract?By agreeing on data to be collected that provides for contract audit.
All Presentation Material Copyright Eurostep Limited
What is the scope of PLCS?
• The key ideas
• Information scope
All Presentation Material Copyright Eurostep Limited
Product in focusPLCS needed a term
to deal with the fact that support and related data can relate to:
A family of design variants
A design
A design as it will be used by an organization
One individual product
A fleet of individuals
All Presentation Material Copyright Eurostep Limited
Product in focus• Can also be the support equipment
All Presentation Material Copyright Eurostep Limited
Assured Product Support Information (APSI)
• When you are about to undertake a maintenance task you need to know that:– It is the right task version for the product being
maintained– That any additional information required is
correct and up-to-date– That the product’s configuration matches that
for which the task is defined– … etc.
• In other words: the correct information for the combination of job and product
• As approved for use
All Presentation Material Copyright Eurostep Limited
APSI
• Enabling the creation and maintenance of a set of Assured Product and Support Information is a major reason for PLCS/AP239
• APSI includes the configuration history of the product(s) in focus– And a lot more
All Presentation Material Copyright Eurostep Limited
History versus Planning
Beyond APSI there is a lot more data• Plans and schedules• Records of work done• Records of problem conditions
A key objective for PLCS is to enable comparison of what has been done with what was supposed to happen.
• Usage, failures, tasks, resources,…
All Presentation Material Copyright Eurostep Limited
History of Activities
As well as the APSI:• What the product has been doing?
– Significant events
• What tasks were planned and done?– What changes have been carried out?
• What tasks were not planned but were done anyway?
• What tasks were planned but not done?
All Presentation Material Copyright Eurostep Limited
History of states
• Alongside the activities need to know:
• Operational state history– Flew on one engine for 2 hours due to
cracked fuel pipe– Cracked pipe replaced 4 hours after
landing– Ran at full power for 2 days in extreme
storm conditions
All Presentation Material Copyright Eurostep Limited
Reference data enables extensions to the AP239 information model
• The information model is prescriptive – but does not cover everything
• The model is extended by “Reference data”• An agreed set of definitions used by one or
more applications or projects within the life cycle of a product, to which reference needs to be made.
• Example:– Product categories– Fault states– Document types
All Presentation Material Copyright Eurostep Limited
Enterprise sectorReference DataTRILS
ClassClassClassClass
How is PLCS using reference data?PLCS definitionsISO 10303-239
PartIdentification Task
OASIS Reference Data
specialization
Class
Task_category
ClassClass
ClassIdenitification_code
ClassPerson_identification_code
ClassPart_identfication_code
Class
Part_category
ClassClass
Industry sectorReference DataDEFSTAN 0060TLSS
Class
ClassClass
ClassReference_number_category
ClassClassDefinitive_government_specification
Class
Item_category
Class
Bulk_item
Class
Ammunition
Project / CompanyReference DataEurofighter / JSF ClassClassClassClass
All Presentation Material Copyright Eurostep Limited
Enterprise sectorReference DataTRILS
ClassClassClassClass
PLCS definitionsISO 10303-239
PartIdentification Task
OASIS Reference Data
specialization
Class
Task_category
ClassClass
ClassIdenitification_code
ClassPerson_identification_code
ClassPart_identfication_code
Class
Part_category
ClassClass
Industry sectorReference DataDEFSTAN 0060TLSS
Class
ClassClass
ClassReference_number_category
ClassClassDefinitive_government_specification
Class
Item_category
Class
Bulk_item
Class
Ammunition
Project / CompanyReference DataEurofighter / JSF ClassClassClassClass
Incr
easi
ng s
peci
aliz
atio
nD
ecre
asin
g in
tero
pera
bilit
yIncreasing standardizationIncreasing interoperability
How is PLCS using reference data?
All Presentation Material Copyright Eurostep Limited
Model overview
Information scope
• What follows is a high level abstract view of the scope showing key elements– From 10,000 feet!– And from 100 feet.
All Presentation Material Copyright Eurostep Limited
EffectivityProperty Classification ID_aliasPerson_or_
OrganizationRepresentation
Productof_ product
Part
view_of
Context
in_context
Product _relation
related
relating
Date_time
Version_relation
related
relating
View_relation
related
relating
Product _view_definitionProduct _version
Product Product structuresAssignments
All Presentation Material Copyright Eurostep Limited
Part
Property Classification ID_aliasPerson_or_
OrganizationDate_time EffectivityRepresentation
Productof_ product
Context
view_of
in_context
DocumentSlotFunctionalBreakdown
SystemBreakdown
Requirement Interface
Product _relation
related
relating
Version_relation
related
relating
View_relation
related
relating
Product _view_definitionProduct _version
Types of Products
All Presentation Material Copyright Eurostep Limited
DocumentSlot
Property Classification ID_aliasPerson_or_
OrganizationDate_time EffectivityRepresentation
Productof_ product
Context
Part FunctionalBreakdown
Requirement SystemBreakdown
view_of
in_context
State
actual_state
expected_state
Observation
observed_state
observed_ product
Interface
Product _individual_version
Planned_ Product Realized_ Product
Product_individual
Product _relation
related
relating
Version_relation
related
relating
View_relation
related
relating
Product _view_definitionProduct _version
Product individualState
All Presentation Material Copyright Eurostep Limited
DocumentSlot
Property Classification ID_aliasPerson_or_
OrganizationDate_time EffectivityRepresentation
Justification Condition Skill
Task
Product _individual_version
Productof_ product
State
Context
Part FunctionalBreakdown
Requirement SystemBreakdown
actual_state
expected_state
start_state
end_state
view_of
in_context
directive
Work_orderin_response_to
Work_requestobservation_consequence
Observation
observed_state
observed_ product
Interface
Planned_ Product Realized_ Product
Product_individual
Date_time
start
finish
Scheme
schedule
Product _relation
related
relating
Version_relation
related
relating
View_relation
related
relating
Product _view_definitionProduct _version
Maintenance Plans,Schedules, Job Cards, Work Request/Order
method_used
structure
Activity_method
Activity
required_ product
operates_on
structure
utilizes
utilizes
All Presentation Material Copyright Eurostep Limited
DocumentSlot
Property Classification ID_aliasPerson_or_
OrganizationDate_time EffectivityRepresentation
Justification Condition SkillMessageEnvelope
Task
Activity_method
Activity
method_used
Work_order
directive
Product _individual_version
Product
required_ product
operates_on
of_ product
State
Context
Part FunctionalBreakdown
Requirement SystemBreakdown
actual_state
expected_state
start_state
end_state
view_of
in_context
Work_requestin_response_to observation_consequence
Observation
observed_state
observed_ product
Interface
Planned_ Product Realized_ Product
Product_individual
Date_time
Contract
Project handles
specifies
hasstructure
structure
Locationstorage
start
finish
utilizes
Scheme
schedule
utilizes
Product _relation
related
relating
Version_relation
related
relating
View_relation
related
relating
Product _view_definitionProduct _version
Further details- Projects / Contracts- Location- Messages
All Presentation Material Copyright Eurostep Limited
All PLCS
All Presentation Material Copyright Eurostep Limited
Why DEXs?• Scope reduction
– The model is too large for most exchange situations
• Specialization– The model is too generic for exchange without more
detail
• User guidance– Ensure consistency– Minimise wasted effort
• Contracting– Need to specify what data
• Conformance– Need to be able to state conformance– Need achievable conformance
All Presentation Material Copyright Eurostep Limited
What is a DEX?• A Data EXchange specification is mechanism for dividing up
the PLCS information model into sections (DEXs) suited for a particular business process. E.g:– DEX: (D001) - Product Breakdown for support– DEX: (D004) - Work Package Definition – DEX: (D007) - Operational Feedback
• A DEX provides:– subset of the
information model– a technical specification for
implementers of PLCS– Adds Reference Data
Work Package Definition DEX
Task set DEX
Operational Feedback DEX
Product Breakdown DEX
PLCS Data Model
All Presentation Material Copyright Eurostep Limited
Entities used by the DEXs• System requirements N/A• Product as Individual 200• Fault_states 195• Maintenance plan 218• Product breakdown for support 162• Aviation Maintenance 172• Task set 235• Work Package definition 233• Work package report 191• Operational feedback 275
• The whole PLCS data model 459
Note:ProvisionalFigures
All Presentation Material Copyright Eurostep Limited
PLCS usage Production• BAE Land Systems Hägglunds
– Provision of configuration managed manufacturing data to suppliers– Provision of support data to customer for development of tech pubs
• Norwegian Defence – acquisition of new Frigate
• Swedish Defence– Product Configuration management– Task maintenance management– Spares Optimisation with audit
• UK Ministry of Defence– Work scheduling, operational feedback– Pilot implementation of translators to 9 MOD legacy systems with central view
• US Industry – synchronization of requirements between DOORS & Requisite Pro
Pilots • Airbus• ATACommercial implementations.• A PLCS shared data repository is available as a COTS product
All Presentation Material Copyright Eurostep Limited
Why is PLCS model so big and flexible?
• To allow for through-life change to be captured
• To support audit and traceability– Who said, when, why
• To enable future as well as current approaches
• But …– The complexity is optional– Need not be populated
All Presentation Material Copyright Eurostep Limited
How does PLCS relate to UID’s?
• Simply:– Without good identification schemes cannot
consolidate and relate information– So UID and PLCS are made for each other
• PLCS allows for multiple Id’s with owners– UID is one! There is still likely to be more.– Have completed documentation of how PLCS
handles all the AIA view of UIDs
• In an ideal world:• Consistent identification schemes for a lot more than
just individual products
All Presentation Material Copyright Eurostep Limited
Exploiting PLCS
All Presentation Material Copyright Eurostep Limited
PLCS enables …
• PLCS is not a solution or a system• It is an enabler• It facilitates
– Re-use of translators in working with different target systems
– Re-use of data across• Different system types• Multiple enterprises• Through time
• There has to be a business reason before using it
All Presentation Material Copyright Eurostep Limited
How good is your data?
• A warning: Using PLCS will expose data quality problems
• During processor development• From varying system usage• In merging data sets from different sources
– This is NOT a problem with the standard• Although some managers may see it that way
• Improved Data Quality can add immediate value
All Presentation Material Copyright Eurostep Limited
Ways to use PLCS
• To assist in understanding business process improvement opportunities or clarifying system requirements
• To define and implement interfaces• As an integration model
– Consolidation of information across the enterprise
All Presentation Material Copyright Eurostep Limited
The Big Picture• PLCS has been designed to enable feedback and optimization
across the Product Life Cycle• This requires a data warehouse holding a comprehensive set
of APSI and history data– May be distributed and could be virtual
– Consolidation of information from many sources
• This requires feedback collection over long periods– With processes/automation in place to ensure rigor and accuracy
• Business return on investment may be long term– Improved products and processes, lower maintenance and higher
reliability – Through Life ILS
• Short term gain from traceability and audit of data– Current processes are too anonymous and fail to deal with
change
All Presentation Material Copyright Eurostep Limited
Headaches• Where are the short term wins?• Where is there pain in the current process?
– Mandraulic or unreliable data transfer– Unreliable data leading to cost
• Persistent data inconsistencies between systems or organizations
– Managing individuals versus designs• Individual identification
– UID
– Problems with spare parts & resources– Problems with information availability
• Deal with a current problem and use PLCS
All Presentation Material Copyright Eurostep Limited
Contract• Where
– The success of a contract depends on two-way exchange of data between the parties
– The data falls in the scope of PLCS– Direct systems integration is not an option
• Firewalls and other security requirements• Business imperatives
– Systems in use may change during the life of the contract
• PLCS can provide– Activity framework via the Activity Model– Data exchange– Collaboration basis and hub
All Presentation Material Copyright Eurostep Limited
Technology
• Modelling– EXPRESS is an early Model-Driven Architecture– IDEF0 is used for illustration – not process
definition
• XML– The ISO 10303-28 XML is complex in order to
cope with the generality
• Web-Services and SOA– Eurostep has defined and is using a set of PLCS
web services– Will be submitting these to the OASIS PLCS TC
All Presentation Material Copyright Eurostep Limited
OASISOASIS
ISOISO
From information model to exchange
DEXs(20)Capabilities
(131)
Exchange file
Using
Basisfor
Controls
Modules(135 PLCS)
Buildingblocks
Using
RDLs(>1)
Bu
siness R
ules (term
s, agreements, traditions, etc)
BusinessConcepts
specifies
uses(subset)
specifies
ExchangeAgreement
ExchangeAgreement
According to
Restricts
Access to
Usage guide
specifies
System Engineering and PLCS at Airbus Overview
STEP AP239 and STEP AP233
Eurostep meeting
Presented by
Frederic DARRE
© A
IRB
US
S.A
.S.
All
right
s re
serv
ed.
Con
fiden
tial a
nd p
ropr
ieta
ry d
ocum
ent.
STEP AP239 Product Life Cycle Support
• Replacement of the Airbus own format by the AP239 format
DTS
file Prototype 1 STEP
AP239
file
P28 format (XML)
Data Transfer Sheet
Prototype 2 STEP
AP239
file
P28 format (XML)
PDI
file
• Creation of a data model in AP239 for the long term retention of the PDI (Airbus LTA project)
AP239data model
AP239data model
this two data models has to be validated internally and with the DEX
Preservation Description Information
File used for exchange
File used for archiving
All Presentation Material Copyright Eurostep Limited
Following two slides
• Are taken from the kick-off of a current joint MOD/Industry project
•MOD and Industry objectives are the same:
• A jointly agreed target architecture underpinned by agreed processes, standards and rule sets that set the foundation for the delivery of Logistics Information Systems capability across Defence
•Industry will benefit from:
• Clear requirements that avoid the development of inconsistent, tactical, expensive, point-to-point, project specific solutions to meet collaborative business and operational information requirements
• A share in the reduced costs in delivering modern support contracts
• Accelerated opportunities for the delivery of the associated information requirements
Industry ObjectivesIndustry Objectives
The Logistic Information Systems PictureThe Logistic Information Systems Picture
What we need is:
Trusted end-to-end information visibility and exchange
Reduced time to delivery
Better value for money
Reduced integration risk
Cheaper and more straightforward upgrades
Better, timely exploitation of commercial research and development
What we currently get is:
Different implementations of the same basic components
Multiple user interfaces – with a large training burden
Bespoke components that isolate us from the natural upgrade path
Payment many times over for the same problems to be solved
Top Related