Product data technology provides the means to specify engineering data so that it can be communicated efficiently between computerised operations at all stages of the life cycle of a manufactured product, from conceptual design through to disposal and recycling. Product data technology also enables property data relating to modern materials to be fully integrated with all the other engineering data for a manufactured product in a single information model. Product data technology is based on applications of the International Standards: ISO 10303 Product data representation and exchange and ISO 13584 Parts library. These standards have been created by global industrial collaboration in research and development over the past 15 years and the technology is continuing to evolve as a global engineering project. Their use provides specifications for engineering data to ensure that the data are fit for purpose. This review summarises the importance of information models, a major component of product data exchange technology, as the basis of communication, shows how the capability to describe modern materials has been integrated with the other engineering concepts in the information model, and provides some examples of the applications of this technology in modern industrial practice. The use of XML (extensible markup language) for the representation of materials property data is critically evaluated. The review concludes with a discussion of why the materials sectors are not adopting this technology and identifies the benefits materials engineering and materials processing could gain from its use.
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