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An enterprise system provides the tools and facilities for managing and providing access to the enterprise information and integrating the automated processes of an enterprise. The enterprise system for RASSP is defined as the integrated set of tools and facilities required to support the development of a signal processor prototype - design, manufacturing, test, management, procurement, etc. The RASSP enterprise system enables the integration of the tools used in the various stages of the development of a signal processor, using a workflow management tool and an enterprise-wide product data manager. It supports integrated product development by providing an infrastructure to support concurrent engineering in a distributed environment. Users are supported by a desktop environment that provides services to support interaction with either individual tools or groups of related tools coupled with specific frameworks. The enterprise system provides support services enabling users to interact with other users on common internal networks. In addition, the enterprise system supports interaction with external system users, such as team member organizations, manufacturing centers, and external suppliers who are members of the concurrent engineering development team.
The RASSP enterprise system implementation is based on commercially available tools, database systems, product data management systems, workflow management systems, network technologies, and related applications. The enterprise system provides a highly productive development environment that enables designers to focus their development tasks on the target designs-providing a degree of isolation of the designers from the detailed translations and information management functions required to support design processes.
The enterprise system toolset includes the following:
Design Methodology Manager (DMM) guides you through your design process while managing the relationships between the various tasks in the process. This reduces error propagation and trims design cycles. Included within DMM is a workflow builder for defining the process model, and an Application Procedural Interface (API) for custom integration of external applications. DMM comes with a collection of software utilities and a graphical user interface that allows you to easily encapsulate your own applications.
Process workflows reduce the learning curve and increase productivity.
Allows designers to focus on the creative side of design rather than on the mechanics of using design automation tools. This dramatically increases designer throughput.
Easy Application Encapsulation
With DMM, you don't have to be a software engineer to encapsulate applications. DMM's graphical user interface allows anyone to encapsulate most common applications.
Control and Track Design Processes
Some design processes span two or more companies or multiple groups in the same company. In this case, your design processes may have to be enforced to ensure that required design practices are followed for projects to be completed successfully.
Lowers Your Cost of Ownership
Interoperability across UNIX and Microsoft Windows platforms enables you to leverage your existing hardware and software investments.
Graphical Process Builder
Intuitive Design Workflows
Advanced Capabilities
Data In
Data Out
The Intergraph Asset and Information Management (AIM) is a Product Data Management (PDM) system that is based on the Metaphase PDM system from Metaphase Technologies. Key components of AIM are AIM/Server, AIM/Manager.
AIM/Server is the server-based component for AIM, Intergraph's enterprisewide Asset and Information Management solution. AIM/Server provides an object-oriented framework that includes architectural components for data indexing storage, query, security, and usage control. Full-text retrieval indexing (AIM/FTR) is also available for AIM/Server. This architectural framework creates a graphical work environment to help users quickly locate and use documents. Not only will AIM/Server manage information, but it will also ensure that access to information is controlled and information integrity is preserved throughout the life cycle of a document.
AIM/Server performs many object management functionalities including administration of users, groups, and hosts; a generic set of object classes and relationships; object creation, storage, vaults, and queries; and a rule-driven security mechanism. AIM/Server uses a relational database for maximum efficiency and security.
Additional AIM/Server features include an object-storage mechanism for managed objects, database independence, and support for distributed databases and distributed metadata.
AIM/Server provides a dynamic data exchange (DDE) interface that enables external DDE-enabled applications, such as SAP, to communicate with the AIM system. The communication between AIM and external applications is performed through AIM/Manager, the client module of the AIM system.
AIM/Manager features a configurable graphical user interface that gives both technical and non-technical users a comprehensive solution for managing documents at their desktop. By providing an interface into the object data vault managed by AIM/Server, AIM/Manager allows easy management of multiformat files distributed across a mixed network of hardware, software, and databases.
AIM/Manager provides a wealth of functionality, including the ability to:
AIM/Manager is a comprehensive solution for any organization's document management needs. The product will manage any type of document or drawing, including raster, spreadsheet, word processing, ASCII, and CAD files such as MicroStation and AutoCAD. The product also provides an open-system environment for document storage. Supported RDBMSs include Oracle and Informix.
AIM/Manager look-and-feel simplifies the process of managing documents. In conjunction with AIM/API, the user interface is configurable to suite the needs of a user, user group, user function or department, or company standard. The AIM/Manager window displays documents in one of three modes - tree view, icon view, and browse list view. The tree view provides a graphical representation of the documents and their relationships to other documents; the icon view displays a different icon for each type of document; and the browse list provides a scrolling list of attributes for each document. With simple pull-down menus and key-ins, new documents can be created and placed in the object vault. User-defined attribute information - such as document name, revision, and a description - is associated with the document and automatically maintained and managed by AIM/Server. Additional information is stored automatically when the document is placed in storage, including file size, date and time of check-in, and name of the user who checked in the document.
Through AIM/Manager, the user can create object-to-object associations to allow real-life representation of document relationships. AIM/Manager allows document access with little or no knowledge of physical storage locations, hardware platforms, or database systems. To retrieve a document, users can query the database by document name or any desired attribute.
To reduce the number of documents in a browse list, search filters can be specified. Filters can include the name of documents (including wild-card characters), descriptions, file type, check-in/check-out status (including documents checked out by a specific user), and other parameters.
As well as performing attribute searches, the user can search the contents of documents using a technology called full-text retrieval (FTR). With this technology, the user simply specifies a word or list of words that would be contained in the document and AIM/Manager will provide a list of documents that contain that word. Intergraph's full-text retrieval engine, AIM/FTR, is required on the server.
AIM/Manager increases the productivity of information by allowing simultaneous access of documents by multiple users. However, access to information is controlled according to user-defined security rules. AIM/Manager allows only one user at a time to check out a document for editing and markup purposes, but multiple users may simultaneously copy documents for view only. AIM/Manager automatically copies and retrieves files attached to drawings - such as MicroStation reference files - when the drawings are checked out.
AIM/Manager provides the ability to transition documents, drawings, document groups, or folders through user-defined workflows. With AIM/Workflow installed at the server, each document can be assigned its own workflow and transitioned independently of associated files.
The system is rules-based and can easily be configured to require user signoff before a document or drawing can be transitioned from its current state to the next state. AIM/Manager maintains a list of signoffs and a sign-off history for each document.
AIM/Manager provides a comprehensive system that can grow with customers' needs. It not only provides an interface into Intergraph's document management system, but can be combined with other AIM products and third-party editing software to provide a wide variety of document management and manipulation functions. AIM/Manager openness allows it to incorporate existing hardware and software to meet the diverse needs of individual workgroups or entire enterprises. Yet AIM/Manager is flexible enough to fit the specific needs of each user.
The RASSP Reuse Data Manager (RRDM) is used to catalog and search for reusable design objects. Reusable design objects are also known as Reusable Elements (REs). Over one million design objects are currently managed in the RRDM. The RRDM is built on Aspect Development's Explore (CLMS) family of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) products. Within RASSP, Explore (CLMS) has been integrated with Mentor Graphics' Library Management System (LMS) and Intergraph's Product Data Management (PDM) system.
Explore (CLMS) is primarily used in two phases:
Explore (CLMS) supports RASSP-defined classification hierarchies of reusable elements that resulted from RASSP-funded research.
Aspect's CSM solution includes Explore (CLMS) client-server software which classifies, manages and cross-references all component, supplier and design data and automates the processes associated with this information, as well as the VIP Family of Component Reference Databases containing up-to-date information on over one million standard electronic and mechanical parts from over 600 suppliers.
Explore's (CLMS) 3rd generation object-relational architecture combines the flexibility of an object-oriented application with the power and security of an underlying commercial relational database engine (Oracle). Explore's (CLMS) flexible architecture allows customers to rapidly configure the system to integrate and leverage both internal business and technical data cross-referenced with manufacturer reference data. Explore (CLMS) provides desktop access to a unified repository of consistent and current preferred parts, supplier information, and design data to significantly reduce product costs and time-to-market. Aspect also provides a complete set of legacy data migration and enterprise consulting services to accelerate the setup and deployment of enterprise solutions.
Aspect Development's Explore (CLMS) is used to:
Explore (CLMS) makes searching for electrical and mechanical parts, suppliers, hardware and software design elements, CAD libraries, datasheets and other related information easy through the use of a hierarchical classification methodology. Objects are organized in a class hierarchy of classes and subclasses presented as a series of hierarchical folders. All classes have search parameters which define functional or business characteristics about the object. With Explore (CLMS) users can easily find and select parts, suppliers or designs by browsing the class hierarchy and entering search parameter values without knowing part numbers, commodity codes, coded text descriptions, spellings, and so on.
Aspect's 'Standard Classification Scheme' (SCS) is a pre-defined classification scheme that classifies standard electrical, mechanical and electromechanical parts as well as material, subsystems and accessories into classes and subclasses for easy search and retrieval. The standard parameter dictionary defines for each class, naming conventions (e.g., Microprocessor), parameters (e.g., technology = CMOS, vendor = Siemens) and legal values (e.g., power = 1 to 10 watts). Aspect's VIP family of component reference databases uses SCS to classify over one million parts. Customers also use SCS as the organizational framework for managing internal standard and custom parts with technical and business parameters and to cross-reference internal standard parts to one or more commercially available manufacturer parts contained within the VIP family of component reference databases. The SCS is based on IEC, ISO, EIA, JEDEC and other standards.
Explore (CLMS) supports any number and levels of classes, subclasses and search parameters. Customers can create new classes, subclasses and search parameters or modify the classes, subclasses and search parameters provided with SCS. Classification is achieved via an object-oriented model, while the information is stored in a commercial relational database (Oracle). Class and search parameter data modeling is accomplished dynamically through the graphical user interface while the system is on-line and doesn't require a database administrator or programmer with SQL or programming experience. Once the model is defined, Aspect's Soft Model technology will automatically create the underlying relational tables and build the application on-the-fly without recompiling. No software programming is required.
Viewing the class hierarchy is achieved through the Class Browser. Explore (CLMS) supports multiple class browsing modes to provide an easy to use, intuitive interface for a range of users from the infrequent user to the power user. In Hierarchical Class Browsing mode the Class Browser shows the class hierarchy as a series of nested folders. Folders can be expanded or collapsed by simply pointing and clicking on the folder icons to navigate through the class hierarchy. In Power User Mode, users simply type in the class name or a fragment of the class name, instead of clicking through multiple folder levels, the class browser automatically jumps to display and highlight the typed-in class. In Flat Class Browsing mode, classes are organized and displayed alphabetically, users can then scroll through the list or use the power user mode to jump directly to the desired class.
Explore (CLMS) provides a simple yet powerful parametric search engine. Simply select the desired item class in the browser and press the quick search button to display a list of those items. Furthermore, you can qualify the list of items retrieved by entering search parameter values. The customer can search on parameters provided with SCS or on customer define technical and business parameters. Example search parameters include part number, generic part number, manufacturer, supplier, description, technology, package style, cost, lead time, status and dozens of other technical and business search parameters and any combination of the above. Search shortcuts include wildcards, ranges, logical and numerical operators, pick lists and unit-of-measure conversion. Explore's (CLMS) object-oriented architecture supports full parameter inheritance, search parameters declared at top-level classes are inherited down to the bottom-level leaf classes, allowing users to do parametric searches at any class level in the class hierarchy. Search results are viewed in horizontal or vertical tables as shown in Figure 6.2-1.
Display a list of all Metric Hex Head Bolts with a thread designation of M10, a nominal length between 50 and 60 millimeters, a 1.5 millimeter thread pitch, and a 10 millimeter diameter.
Figure 6.2-1. Search results screen.
Explore (CLMS) is integrated to the following software:
The RASSP Reuse Data Manager (RRDM) consists of a client browser, a "perspectives" application server (including the search and vocabulary mapping engines), and multiple source data repositories. A designer looking for reusable design knowledge browses the hierarchy and identifies a potential source for designs of interest. Then, through a custom view of the common vocabulary, the user may specify attributes of the candidate design(s) he or she is interested in. Queries may include arithmetic expressions, logical expressions, attributes of related classes, and constraints on any of the attributes, as appropriate. Mapping algorithms that account for a variety of data inconsistencies, differences in precision, translation of units of measure, and other distinctions among terms across repositories are resolved to the user's customized vocabulary and display requirements. The search of available (and optionally selected) source repositories is performed in parallel, with meta-data for all results displayed through the client browser. Depending on the number and nature of the results returned, he or she may further refine the search by specifying additional attributes and/or more restrictive criteria. Objects of interest may be selected and the corresponding designs (e.g., schematics, drawings, models) displayed in their native tool environments given that appropriate resources are available to the user.
The key capabilities are:
The underlying knowledge engine that manages the common vocabulary, maps that vocabulary to the various distributed sources of reusable engineering design data in the environment, and provides a common user interface/single entry point from which users can search for, view and access candidate designs and related information is known as the Sandpiper Software Intelligent Information Broker (IIB).
The environment in which the RRDM operates consists of the following components:
End users include, among others, designers who interact with the system directly or through integrated applications such as product data management (PDM) systems, workflow managers, CAD tools, or other systems in their environment.
The intelligent information broker (IIB) provides the capability for users to search for and retrieve design knowledge (or other related engineering and business information) stored in their distributed environment through the common vocabulary. This vocabulary is implemented as a group of internal repositories of descriptive information that describe the terms defined for the domain, the locations, and characteristics of source repositories, characteristics of the mapping from source repositories to the common vocabulary, user authentication information, and so forth. The IIB provides the capability to search stored meta-data for design knowledge, regardless of whether the objects themselves are managed by the broker or externally.
The information broker (shown as an "application server") acts as middleware, integrating end users (or "clients") with the various sources of design knowledge in their virtual environment. IIB functionality has been partitioned between the application server, Javaª applets integrated with the user's Web Browser, and the source database servers that comprise the cooperating environment. Integration of external applications is enabled through Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA) application programming interfaces (APIs).
Figure 6.2-2 highlights the prototype IIB architecture as implemented in the RASSP environment. As mentioned above, users interact with the system either directly through a Java™-enabled web browser or through other applications that have been integrated with the IIB through CORBA-compliant APIs.
At the heart of the IIB is the Perspective Server, which provides the intelligent search and information brokering function in support of user requests. From these user requests, it generates queries to the associated source repositories. The Perspectives Server maps the user's query from either the common vocabulary or a customized, user-specific vocabulary to the physical back-end repository implementation notation (e.g., SQL, C++), returning the requested data to the user in a user-specified format.
Figure 6.2-2. Sandpiper Software Intelligent Information Broker Context.
The IIB provides native support for sets of tightly-coupled back-end database servers. These tightly-coupled federations have similar schemas and may be mapped to one another and the common domain vocabulary through a single source vocabulary. For source repositories that are sufficiently dissimilar, separate (distinct) source vocabularies will be integrated with the IIB. A single federation of source repositories may be represented by multiple vocabularies, each providing different views (e.g., by a standard by taxonomy, function, by product) of the underlying data. User selection between these views enables access to the data in a manner most appropriate to the task at hand.
The Perspectives Server also describes the mapping between the user's preferred view and the common vocabulary for a domain. The user's custom view may include attributes from multiple classes, constraints on display characteristics, such as preferred currency or units of measure, and so forth. These views are also encoded as ontologies based on Ontolingua and KIF.
Planned Enhancements
A number of additional capabilities are planned for the commercial product and subsequent releases by Sandpiper Software, Inc. These include:
The TriTeal Enterprise Desktop (TED) is a graphical desktop environment that provides independence from the underlying operating system and hardware. It provides a OSF/Motif compliant window manager and libraries to enable the execution and development of OSF/Motif applications. Common desktop activities have been encapsulated into an icon-based graphical interface that employs intuitive drag and drop techniques.
TED provides a tightly integrated suite of applications for common activities. TED provides a customizable "front panel", a file manager, an application manager, a style manager, an e-mail interface, a calendar manager, a WWW browser, FAX manager, and an extensive help system. All of these work together to provide a seamlessly integrated interface. The front panel is the launch point for most applications and many desktop controls. It is fully customizable to facilitate easy access to most commonly used applications. The application manager allows access and control of every application in one convenient location, including applications that reside on the network. The file manager allows easy access and quick navigation of the filesystem. Files can be associated with applications via several different paradigms so that access to a particular file is as simple as double clicking. The calendar manager allows scheduling of group events and has multiple notification methods. All of these applications, along with the WWW browser and fax manager, are drag and drop compatible with each other which makes for a very intuitive interface. TED also includes an integrated virtual desktop environment that allows a user to have more than one desktop environment sharing the save physical screen. This allows a user to tailor each virtual desktop to the specific needs of a particular application or activity. It reduces desktop clutter by hiding the windows and icons of other applications that are present on other virtual desktops.
The overall mission of the RASSP Manufacturing Interface is to enable first-pass manufacturing success of application-specific signal processors. To achieve this goal, concurrent engineering techniques must be used between design and manufacturing to ensure that manufacturability is built into designs from the beginning. This level of communication and cooperation can be achieved most effectively in the context of a "virtual enterprise". The information sharing infrastructure that forms the backbone of a virtual enterprise can only be achieved through the development, acceptance and adherence to information sharing standards such as VHDL, EDIF, and STEP.
The Manufacturing Interface being developed by the SCRA Team provides seamless integration of design and manufacturing as well as supporting Integrated Product/Process Development (IPPD). By providing an IPPD capability, the Manufacturing Interface allows design prototypes to be produced more quickly. By using a standards based interface, the RASSP Manufacturing Interface supports virtual partnering between design and manufacturing organizations.
At the heart of the Manufacturing Interface is a novel concurrent engineering capability. The principle focus of this capability is to enable an effective DFx capability by creating an IPPD environment. This Concurrent Engineering (CE) environment is distinguished from other CE environments in two respects. First, it utilizes a standards-based methodology to create the information sharing infrastructure necessary for IPPD. Second, it provides a unique, knowledge-centered approach to concurrent engineering. This is accomplished by integrating an inference engine into the standards-based information sharing environment. The result is an automated concurrent engineering capability. This capability allows engineers from different disciplines to capture their experience in an executable form. This executable knowledge may then be used to detect potential producibility, testability, and other "ility" issues early in the product development process.
The Manufacturing Interface is composed of several distinct tools. The Manufacturing Resource Editor (MRE) is used to capture the capabilities of a manufacturing facility in standard form. The Mentor-to-STEP Data Converter tool is used to convert Mentor design files into standard STEP files. The STEP product data is used by a Producibility Advisor in conjunction with manufacturing capability information captured by the MRE to determine any issues against the design based on the manufacturing production line chosen. The product data and manufacturing capabilities are also used by the Process Planner to create a manufacturing process plan. Manufacturing and design issues are resolved via the Web-based Access Mechanism and collaboration tools. A secure Internet connection will be used to transfer data between design sites and the Ocala manufacturing site.
In Build 2, support for EDIF 4 0 0 is being added to the standards-based interface. Also, Mitron's CIMBridge manufacturing support system is being integrated into the Manufacturing Interface, providing more robust DFx analysis capabilities and commercially supported Numeric Control (NC) program generators. The architecture of the Manufacturing Interface is shown in Figure 6.2-3.
Figure 6.2-3. RASSP manufacturing interface architecture.
Ultimately, the capabilities embodied in the Manufacturing Interface will enable concurrent engineering in the context of the electronic commerce paradigm. Figure 6.2-4 illustrates how this will be accomplished. The initial design customer contact with the manufacturer takes place via a public World Wide Web (WWW) connection. If further contact is desired the customer registers with the manufacturer and is given access to a secure WWW server. The customer may then transfer design data via secure Internet to the manufacturing site and use a web browser to run the design data against the manufacturer's capabilities. Manufacturing issues and relative pricing are returned to the customer via the secure WWW connection. If additional manufacturing knowledge is required, the customer may request assistance from a manufacturing engineer. Additional iterations of this scenario may be required before a satisfactory design is obtained. When the design is complete, the customer contacts the manufacturing engineer for detailed cost and scheduling information and data verification.
Collaboration is a term which is used to describe the interaction between participants in the RASSP design and development process. Specific tools are sought which improve the efficiency and quality of information exchange between individuals, while at the same time providing a communications platform used in conjunction with other on-going RASSP initiatives.
Two collaboration tools have been identified and implemented. These can be used with other RASSP Enterprise capabilities, e.g., the Manufacturing Interface function. The collaboration tools used, CommuniquŽ and Cooltalk by Insoft, support a variety of exchange mechanisms. Included
Figure 6.2-4. Supporting electronic commerce.
are a series of "tools". The tools are: Chat Tool, Audio Tool, Whiteboard Tool, TV Tool, Information Exchange Tool, and Image Tool. The only substantive difference between CommuniquŽ and Cooltalk is that CommuniquŽ includes the TV Tool and Cooltalk does not. In addition, CommuniquŽ is a standalone product whereas Cooltalk has been bundled with the new version of the Netscape Navigator web browser. Any subset of these "tools" can be used in a specific application. In some cases the tools employed may not include the complete suite due to network firewall limitations. In particular, both the Audio and TV Tools are User Datagram Protocol (UDP) based, which are normally screened by corporate firewall implementations. The remaining tools are Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) based and more likely to be supported. Nonetheless, any one of the aforementioned tools provides a significant enhancement of the information exchange capabilities between participants in the RASSP workflow process. A brief description of these tools follows.
A CommuniquŽ Conference is first established by one individual. Other individuals are in turn invited to join the conference. Some initial coordination must first be established to ensure that each user has his or her CommuniquŽ software executing, as this is a pre-requisite. The conference initiator issues invitations to others who in turn accept these invitations. In this manner the conference is established where any or all participants can then invoke specific tools. Each tool invoked is accessible or visible to each conference attendee. For example, if a chat session is initiated, each participant has an opportunity to view the chat exchange and join in, if desired.
The chat tool generates a viewable window which displays typed text by each participant, with a user name preceding each entry. The audio tool provides the ability to conduct an audio teleconference and requires the use of microphones and speakers at each participating workstation. The whiteboard tool enables the use and display of a shared whiteboard application where each participant can generate graphic symbols, text, freehand sketchings, and import graphics. This tool is extremely valuable when used in the context of evaluating detailed design material. The TV Tool is the video equivalent of the audio tool and requires that the workstation(s) is equipped with a camera. Setup parameters can be adjusted to configure the degree of audio/video synchronization. When this function is working properly over communications links possessing sufficient bandwidth it is as if the individuals are collaborating in physical proximity. The information exchange tool allows users to exchange and view data contained on floppy disks or CDs.
Another network initiative being undertaken is the establishment of secure network communications. It is the goal of RASSP Enterprise infrastructure to implement tools which expand other associated capabilities of RASSP without compromising data and by protecting privacy of communications. This takes several forms. It includes the addition of a secure communications layer on top of World Wide Web transactions. This function provides for encrypted client/server sessions. Thus, using the WWW HyperText Transfer Protocol (http) as a transfer medium, RASSP related information may be hosted on a secure server. By combining with already existing http authentication schemes, confidential design information can be made available to selected users which is protected against unauthorized access.
The specific tool used to implement secure WWW sessions is Netscape's Commerce/Enterprise Server. This server uses Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol to encrypt client/server sessions. It uses Public Key encryption technology. Encryption keys are exchanged by server and client when a session is initiated. A one-time session key is also used to ensure uniqueness during an individual session. The encryption session is performed transparently by client and server with no overt action required by the user of the client browser. Thus, in order for the sessions to be "private", authentication is built on top by means of tailored HypterText Markup Language (HTML) coding. This involves the use of user names and passwords, whose exchange is automatically encrypted.
Another component of secure communications is the use of Pretty Good Privacy (PGP) email and data encryption schemes. This function uses Public Key encryption technology along with a simple graphical user interface (GUI) to allow users to ensure that their messages can only be read by intended recipients. For data, it can be used to encrypt data files prior to their staging on a network server. This ensures that confidential data is protected from unauthorized access.
Note that PGP comes in two varieties: freeware version and commercial version. The freeware version is available to individuals and the commercial version is for use by businesses. These versions are fully interoperable with one another.
The WorkXpert Tool Suite offers a complete work flow design environment for engineering design teams, and project managers.
The growing complexity of the design process increases the need for better process management. As the number of design tasks and the relationships between them increases, more and more time is required to move the design through the process. A way to quickly identify the appropriate tools, data, and people for any given phase of the work becomes critical. The WorkXpert family of products allow engineers, designers, project and program managers to meet the latest design challenge in a fast-paced market. The WorkXpert family of products from Mentor Graphics offers the ability to capture, manage, and track best design processes.
ProSim is a process modeling product that enable users to capture, document, and analyze processes. Because both ProSim and ProCap are based on IDEF3, a government-endorsed, standard process modeling method, you can be sure that the process models you create will meet the documentation guidelines required by such programs as ISO 9000 and TQM.
ProSim adds the ability to record simulation goals, process time, resource utilization, costing, labor requirements, and setup time in a simulation model that's read by WITNESS, AT&T ISTEL's simulation engine, for automatic simulation generation. ProSim validates models with options that are customized by the user. Errors are reported by the system allowing users to edit processes, re-allocate resources, and update decision logic before simulation is run.
ProSim has three windows in which models may be developed, edited, and analyzed. The Matrix Window is a spreadsheet-like interface that allows the user to quickly define the interaction between processes and objects. Details on different objects are easily captured and seamlessly incorporated into your simulation models. The Indented Nodelist is an expandable outline format that displays the hierarchical arrangement of higher-level and lower-level processes. This greatly simplifies both model construction and documentation, since you may view your model at varying levels of detail and complexity. The Diagram Window is a graphical representation of processes, their sequences, and their associated decision points.
Object State Transition Networks (OSTNs) can be constructed in the Object Window. This window illustrates an object and how it changes over its lifetime, and allows users to easily document the processes which trigger those changes. The powerful combination of process and object views, plus the ability to generate validated simulation models, gives you significant leverage in your knowledge capture, documentation, quality certification, and reengineering efforts.
ProSim version 2.1.5 was released May 1, 1996, and features:
Use ProSim to:
WITNESS is a process simulation tool used to assist in the evaluation of alternatives, either in support of major strategic initiatives or continuous improvement. A WITNESS model is a visual computer representation of a real life system. The model representation turns raw data into productive measures to support decision making. WITNESS provides the user with a broad scope of information on which to base decisions, predict outcomes, improve processes, analyze problems, and formulate solutions. It provides immediate feedback to various what-if scenarios, thereby shortening overall project time. Key WITNESS features are:
MS Project is a project planning and scheduling tool. It enables users to create a project work breakdown structure (WBS) for the project tasks. Create project schedules by assigning timelines to the tasks, typically, in the form of a Gantt chart. The task constraints can be incorporated to model task dependencies. The tool also allows assignment of resources to the tasks. A project manager can use this tool to create a project plan, create a schedule, and track project progress.
RASSP CDRL A007 - 6/98 6-30 cad system description Baseline 2.0
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