Why use PLIB or what is the benifit of PLIB?A. PLIB is an acronym for ISO13584 Parts Library standard. As an Internaitional Standard, it defines the basic data model for e-engineering catalogues, which enables global identificaiton of product class and its properties, due to the identification mechanism that PLIB supports. A structured collection of product classes and properties is called "dictionary" in PLIB terminology and itself is exchangeable as data, let alone the content of catalogue using the dictionary. Thus, following the PLIB dictionary model, an electronic catalogue system or product database system can incorporate mutiple dictionaries, and progressively extend its capacity in an interoperable and continuous manner. It marks a clear distinction with conventional product database that is uilt upon the naive Relational Database Model, in which the properties of a product must be represented by a fixed number of attributes( columns) of a table or tables. In this latter case, it is difficult to fully describe new products with new additional features or properties. Moreover, PLIB has a rich set of data types for describing product specifications, including class_instance_type for part assembly description. In addition, it allows object-oriented data modeling, thus it is ideal for data-oriented engineering databases for manufacturing and procurement.
Who are users of PLIB?
A. In terms of dictionary, currently, a number of organizations in the world are buiding PLIB based product classifications, and its number is rapidly increasing. In Japan, industrial organizations such as JEITA, JEMA, JEMIA, NECA, adopt PLIB or relaxed PLIB-based e-catalogues. Among them, JEMIMA(Japan Electric Measuring Instruments Manufactures' Association) is now proposing its classification of measuring instruments as an initial content for ISO13584-501"Reference dictionary for measuring instruments". In China, CNIS(China National Institute of Standardization) is building a "Reference dictionary for mechanical fasteners", such as bolts and nuts. In EU, two major companies of cutting tools for metal works joined the force in buiding a reference dictionary for cutting tools as ISO13399. Moreover, now NATO( North Atlangic Treaty Organization) is seriously studying the conversion of NCS( Nato Codification System), a codying system used for procurements of various goods and equipments, to PLIB based code system. In France two major automobile companies, PSA and Renault, are studying the use of PLIB for their procurement and maintenance of production facilities and equipment. Thus, it is safe and wisest to choose PLIB, if your company is considering the use of electronic catalogue or product specification database for manufacturing, procument and maintenance. PLIB is now a global trend toward standardized interchangeable e-engineering framework.
PLIB uses
XML?A. For the description of dictionary, it currently uses ISO10303-21 physical file (so called "STEP file" or "Part21 file" format). Definition of dictionary by XML schema and/or in CSV file is under study. Content of the catalogue itself can be exchanged using XML, CSV, or in Part21 file. For the exchange of PLIB catalogue content in XML, TOSHIBA and LISI/ENSMA have jointly developed XML-DTD called SimPLIB specification, that is listed on this website (see SimPLIB). In case of OmniPhaseTM, it currently supports content exchange in both XML and CSV formats while its dictionary must be defined in Part21 file. It may support other XML formats according to the necessity. Please contact us for your specific requirements.
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eel.rdc.toshiba.co.jp)
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