This product defines a data interface specification for efficient exchange of manufacturing life cycle data in a simulation environment. The specification provides neutral data interfaces for integrating manufacturing software applications with simulation systems. The initial effort is focusing on machine shop data definitions. The plan is to extend the data specification to include supply chain, aerospace assembly operations, automotive vehicle assembly operations, plant layout, and other relevant manufacturing and simulation information.

This standard effort is to promote the increased, widespread, and pervasive use of advanced manufacturing technologies, in particular, the simulation technology in the manufacturing industries. The effort will benefit not only the manufacturing industry worldwide, but more specifically it will benefit the Modeling and Simulation community in the near term.