ASCON: End-to-end 3D - technology

"End-to-end 3D - the technology" is business solution for the enterprises of defense industry complex and also large engineering enterprises of the civil sector on the platform of software products of Ascon company and its partners.

The solution is intended for the organization of design processes, preparation of production and information support of post-production stages of product lifecycle.

"End-to-end 3D - the technology" is not a "boxed" product which requires only installation in workplaces. The automated system which includes not only a hardware and software system, but also the personnel belonging to different divisions is result of implementation of technology. The personnel should perform operations in a certain sequence for achievement of the set results, interact among themselves by certain rules.

Creation of such system is rather difficult complex of works regulated by the 34th GOST series and executed on a project basis. Nevertheless, creation of an automated system on the basis of standard business solution has features. Main of them is that the business solution implementation methodology "End-to-end 3D - technology" is based on the greatest possible application of standard solutions: standard techniques of accomplishment of processes, standard settings of program components.

Functionality

Software products of Ascon company are designed so that they could be adapted, configured under unique requirements of the different enterprises. At the same time, for each type of the enterprises customers — their industry accessory, the sizes — there is the set of optimal adjustments of each component providing the reference, recommended to Ascon methodology of application of a software package.

Proceeding from it it is possible to call two main options of application of software of Ascon:

Unique solution for the specific enterprise

Software is used as components for creation of unique automated control systems for product lifecycle (ZhTsI ACS). In this case software products are exposed to deep setup by a project team under requirements and specifics of processes of the specific enterprise, are integrated with the systems of other producers, add-on software modules and so on are developed. At the exit the unique project solutions realized in a unique automated system are received. In this option it is possible or application of separate programs tools (a CAD of KOMPAS-3D, TP CAD the Vertical), or their application together with LOTSMAN:PLM acting as a software platform for ZhTsI ACS.

Standard solution for the sake of appearances business

Application as a part of one of the business solutions focused on the enterprises of a certain type (the industry, the size). In this case the standard configuration of program components is taken as a basis, and adaptation comes down to variation of the separate parameters which are essentially not influencing the main logic of work of a software package (for example, templates of reporting documents, standard routes of approval of data and documents are adjusted). Such business solutions represent set of two components: methodology of application of a software package for the enterprises of this type and the configuration of a software package supporting it (including a data model, settings, templates, etc.).

Application methodology

Actually, methodology "End-to-end 3D - technologies" — her "heart", its key link. The methodology contains determinations of terms of data domain; classification and detailed process descriptions of activity (process model); classification and the description of results of accomplishment of processes (documents, data making the digital model of a product), requirements to their contents and a design.

The process model consists of the following processes:

Development of documents and data

• "Design and circuitry design, calculations and development of KD". Includes planning features of works on product development, outline design, distribution of design assignments, development of 3D models, associative drawings, summary documents — sheets and specifications, communications and interaction during design, carrying out calculations of construction, etc.

• "Process design, regulation of works of technology preparation of production, distribution of tasks by technology divisions and contractors, formations of intershop process flows, determinations of preliminary need for production resources, design of technology processes and development of technology documentation, regulation of the material consumption and labor costs.

Approval and document approval and data

Includes functions of parallel acquaintance, consecutive formal approval and a statement with signing by the electronic signature, the certifying sheet or paper documents.

Archive storage, issue, address and subscriber accounting of documents

Includes functions of registration in archive of documents, registration of notifications on changes, formations of requests for issue of copies of paper documents or providing access to electronic documents, issues of copies, duplicates, transfers of originals of documents, registrations of subscribers, notifications of subscribers about changes of documents, formations of standard documents in accordance with GOST (registration forms of the document, the subscriber).

Carrying out changes in documents and data

Includes functions of creation of new versions of changeable documents and data, formation of forms of notifications in accordance with GOST, log entries of changes, approval of notifications and changeable documents, replacement of the changed documents in information objects, higher on hierarchy.

Data exchange with external systems

Includes transmission functions of electronic structures of a product, separate documents between the enterprises cooperators or remote divisions of one enterprise.

In general the methodology is constructed on the following principles:

• compliance to the state, industry, international standards where it is possible;
• compliance to the requirements which are not enshrined unambiguously in standards, but almost widespread among the target enterprises;
• high extent of detailing of process descriptions and requirements to their results;
• existence of optional methods of accomplishment of processes where the optimal way is not unambiguous;
• compliance to the existing opportunities of basic software products, minimization of need of development of unique additional functionality.

Configurations of a software package

Configurations are a set of such components as:

• data model of data domain for a PDM system;
• report templates (sheets, cards in accordance with GOST);
• typical circuits of flows of works (approval and document approval and data, the request in archive, the request for entering of elements into qualifiers of NSI, etc.);
• different setup files.

The maintenance of a configuration of a software package of business solution "End-to-end 3D - the technology" provides accomplishment of actions by users within the methodology described above.

Structure of the software tools "End-to-end 3D — Technologies"

Software tools of Ascon:

• PILOT: PLM (PLM/PDM) — a product data management system throughout all stages of his lifecycle;
• KOMPAS-3D (MCAD) — a three-dimensional modeling system, automated design, development of specifications and text technical documents;
• VERTICAL (CAM/CAPP) — an automated design engineering system of technology processes;
• Reference books of NSI (MDM) are the information retrieval systems containing data on materials and ranges, standard products, technology transactions, means of technology equipment, the equipment, etc.

The recommended software tools of other producers with which the most effective integration is provided (if necessary also others can be used):

• APM WinMachine (CAE) is an application package for implementation of different types of calculations of mechanical constructions and the equipment;
• GEMMA-3D (CAM) — the system of geometrical modeling and programming of processing for CNC machines;
• Altium Designer (ECAD) is an automated design engineering system of the radio-electronic equipment.

Security of information

PLM technology is always connected with a collective information access of a large number of users. Their essence assumes the maximum availability of information to all enterprises (divisions) involved in processes of product lifecycle. However, if it is about information of limited distribution relating to an official or state secret a number of restrictions comes into effect.

First, it is necessary to reduce as much as possible risks of unauthorized access to information. Secondly, to provide compliance to the legislation and regulatory requirements in the field of data protection.

The regulator in this area is the Federal Service for Technical and Export Control. According to requirements of FSTEC, information processing of limited distribution is made in automated systems in the protected execution (ASZI). The software tools of data protection applied in ASZI are subject to certification on lack of not declared opportunities (NDV) and on compliance to specifications at which observance they can be applied in ASZI of a certain class of security.

Software products of Ascon have FSTEC certificates of compliance of RD NDV on the 4th level of control. PILOT: PLM also has the certificate of conformity of the specification as an information security product in automated systems in the protected execution of a class up to 1G inclusive (multi-user information processing, being an official secret).

As of September, 2015 Ascon together with Federal State Unitary Enterprise VNIIEF conducts software customization for the purpose of its certification as an information security product which is the state secret in automated systems of a class up to 1B inclusive. In parallel there is development of methodology "End-to-end 3D - technologies" taking into account application of information security tools, making a state secret (mainly the mandatory principle of access control).

Implementation stages

Preproject stage

At a preproject stage, before signing of the contract, during the short time frame (from a week to one month) specialists of the contractor collect data on an automation object. Survey of key heads and customer's specialists is for this purpose conducted.

The purpose of this stage — to define, the standard solution is how applicable to specifics and requirements of this enterprise. Outputs can vary from a full compliance to the standard solution to impossibility of its application because of the number of the unique requirements incompatible with standard approach.

Terms of reference on creation of an automated system which is developed on the basis of standard by terms of reference by adjustment existing or adding of special requirements are result of a stage. For example, terms of reference can include special requirements for integration with the software tools used at the enterprise or on implementation of special forms of the reporting, etc. On the basis of a task contract parameters are defined.

Preparatory stage

After signing of the contract the preparation stage begins. The project team from specialists of the customer and the contractor is formed. The technology polygon (a set of servers and workstations with the set and configured software) on which the contractor provides training of specialists of an implementation team of the customer is developed and on which all solutions before their scaling in divisions of users will be fulfilled further.

Design of an automated system

On blueprint stage adaptation standard (setup of standard flows of works WorkFlow, reports) and development of unique project solutions is carried out (for example, on integration with legacy systems, new report forms, etc.). All project solutions are breadboarded on a technology polygon, commands and to key users are shown to members project, documented in the explanatory note.

Commissioning

After approval of all project solutions input of a system in action begins. Installation and software configuration in workplaces of users is performed. Training of participants of tests and trial operation is provided. Then — tests and trial operation, and after it — continuous operation. Depending on the number of the involved divisions and specialists input in continuous operation can be made step by step with gradual accumulation of number of specialists and the processed assorted information.

Result

The operating automated system which is carrying out those tasks for the sake of which it also was created is result of implementation.

Development plans (as of September, 2015)

Further development of business solution is based on results of operation of the automated systems constructed on its basis: for this purpose by Ascon it intends to collect offers and notes of customers, to generalize them, to formulate requirements to development and to realize them in the next versions of a software package.

There is also an obvious number of the directions for development. It concerns expansion of the list of the processes supported by functionality and described in application methodology "End-to-end 3D - technology":

• processes of management of requirements;
• quality management processes;
• processes of management of maintenance and repairs;
• processes of management of production.

In some of these directions of Ascon already has software tools, methodology and the corresponding competences. For example, for ensuring planning processes and production management the company offers the system of automated management of production GULF STREAM; for quality management there is a set of software tools QiBox and also a system "8D. Management of discrepancies".

In the near future work on embedding of these software products in structure "End-to-end 3D - technologies" both will begin with technical, and from the methodological point of view, for ensuring end-to-end processes in a common information space on the basis of 3D models.

History and premises of creation

Creation premises "End-to-end 3D - technologies" are closely connected with a global task of import substitution. In 2011 based on the Russian federal nuclear center of the All-Russian Research Institute of experimental physics in the city of Sarov the program for creation of a standard information system of a nuclear weapon complex [1] (TIS NWC) started. It included more than 20 projects in several directions: business applications (ERP, PM), systems of industrial automation (CAD/CAM/CAE/PDM, MES), IT infrastructure and, of course, information security.

In 2012 within the program the active phase of the joint project of Ascon company and Federal State Unitary Enterprise VNIIEF on creation of an automated system under the long name "End-to-end 3D Technology — Design, Modelling, Calculations, Tests and Production" began.

A system is intended for automation of the engineering activity connected with design, preparation of production and production of difficult machine-building products, managements of all accompanying business processes and also their results, documents and data — i.e. all digital model of a product.

"In the heat of work on the project understanding came that the enterprises of defense industry complex on which the solution was focused for specifics and in the majority are rather typical representatives of large mechanical engineering, - say in Ascon. - So formalization of processes and compliance to standards (in view of the sizes of the enterprises), and with another — dynamism and efficiency are important for them, on the one hand. The matter is that state defense order is not the only source of demand: today such enterprises turn out more and more products of dual or civil purpose and the requirement for terms of accomplishment of state defense order become tougher, and orders — in connection with the policy of the state in the field of ensuring defense capability and export of arms — too becomes only more".

Therefore End-to-end 3D - the technology conceived and which appeared as a part of TIS NWC, develops as independent business solution for large mechanical engineering, mainly for representatives of defense industry complex now.

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