The need for data transfer of product models between different areas of manufacturing has long been realised in industry.  The need comes from two main motivators:

• Efficiency
• Quality Assurance

The generation of a product model is a time consuming process.  If different applications can utilise some or all of the generated information, the generating process can be minimised, the product model can be maintained and updated across a wide range of applications through a product’s life-cycle most efficiently and the archiving of information can be minimised.  The generation of product models is a process which is subject to human error.  By centralising the source model and ensuring automatic transfer to the various applications, the verification of the model is a simpler process.