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STEP and PDES Inc.

STEP is developed and maintained through the collaboration of international standards organizations and industry consortia.

ISO TC 184/SC 4

ISO Technical Committee 184, Subcommittee 4 (TC 184/SC 4) is responsible for industrial data standards, including:

  • ISO 10303 - STEP (Standard for the Exchange of Product model data)

  • ISO 13584 - PLIB (Parts Library)

  • ISO 15531 - MANDATE (Industrial manufacturing management data)

  • ISO 18876 - IIDEAS (Integration of industrial data for exchange, access, and sharing)

TC 184/SC 4 meets twice yearly to progress the development of these standards, with national bodies contributing through their own mirror committees.

PDES Inc.

PDES Inc. is an industry consortium that accelerates the development and implementation of STEP standards. Its members include major aerospace, automotive, and electronics companies.

PDES Inc. contributions to AP 210 include:

  • Development of the concept of operations

  • Test case creation and validation

  • Implementation tools and viewers

  • Training materials and education programs

  • Proofs of concept for new functionality

The Standards Development Process

STEP application protocols go through several stages:

  1. New Work Item Proposal - A need is identified

  2. Working Draft - Initial technical development

  3. Committee Draft - Technical review by national bodies

  4. Draft International Standard - Ballot by all ISO member bodies

  5. International Standard - Published by ISO

Each stage involves review, comment resolution, and approval. The process typically takes several years from proposal to publication.

AP 210 Development History

AP 210 has been published in four editions, each expanding the scope:

  • Edition 1 (2001) - Initial scope for printed circuit assemblies

  • Edition 2 (2008) - Expanded to include advanced interconnect and packaging

  • Edition 3 (2014) - Further scope expansion and harmonization with AP 242

  • Edition 4 (2021) - Latest edition with full electronic design coverage