Economic Impact Assessment of the STEP in the Transportation Manufacturing & Electronic Industries - End Users and SoftwareDeveloper Questionnaires

Software Developer Questionnaire

Introduction
On behalf of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Robert D. Niehaus, Inc. (RDN) is evaluating the 
potential benefits of the Standard for the Exchange of Product Model Data (STEP) in reducing interoperability costs for 
the exchange of product data. Interoperability problems arise when members of the supply chain create technical data 
using different design, manufacturing, engineering, or product data management (PDM) software applications. As a 
member of the industry who produces the software used in the design operations of the industries we are investigating 
(transportation and electronics manufacturing), you have unique insights into the state of STEP incorporation in 
CAD/CAM/CAE or PDM software. The information you provide will help NIST better assess the benefits of STEP and 
the needs of this portion of the manufacturing sector, thereby allowing NIST to channel future investments towards 
projects that best meet those needs. The data from this questionnaire will be used to revise projections made in NIST 
Planning Report 02­5 (http://www.nist.gov/director/planning/upload/report02­5.pdf). 

This questionnaire is confidential and voluntary. Please feel free to collaborate with your colleagues when answering 
these questions. No one outside of RDN, Inc. will see your personal or company information. RDN has partnered with a 
contractor, CIMdata, to distribute the survey. CIMdata will see the survey data but has no access to personal or 
company information. We need your help to make sure we have the very best information possible and greatly 
appreciate your time and efforts. 

Software Developer Questionnaire

This collection of information contains Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) requirements approved by the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB). Notwithstanding any other provisions of the law, no person is required to respond to, 
nor shall any person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with, a collection of information subject to the 
requirements of the PRA unless that collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control number. Public 
reporting burden for this collection is estimated to be 30 minutes for this instrument, including the time for reviewing 
instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed and completing and reviewing 
the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any aspect of this collection of 
information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Attn: 
Fred Proctor ([email protected]) and Robert Chapman ([email protected]).  

OMB Control No. 0693­0033 
Expiration Date: 03/31/2015 

Software Developer Questionnaire

Company Identification
Please enter your contact information. Company information is used in aggregate only for data analysis purposes. We 
will not share your personal information or company information with anyone. 

*1. Company Identification (All Fields Required)
Name:
Company/Division:
Title:
Address:
City/Town:
State:

6

ZIP:
Country:
Email Address:
Phone Number:

*2. May we contact you if we have questions about your survey responses?
j Yes
k
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n
j No
k
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n

Software Developer Questionnaire

Customer Base
3. Which of the following industries best describe your customers? Please check all that
apply.

c Aerospace
d
e
f
g

c Computers & Peripherals
d
e
f
g

c Automotive
d
e
f
g

c Communication & Navigation Equipment
d
e
f
g

c Shipbuilding
d
e
f
g

c Audio & Video Equipment
d
e
f
g

c Specialty Tool & Die
d
e
f
g

c Semiconductors
d
e
f
g

c Other (please specify)
d
e
f
g

Software Developer Questionnaire

CAD/CAM/CAE or PDM Product Information
4. Please list the CAD/CAM/CAE or Product Data Management (PDM) software packages
and specialty products below that are used by your customer base. Please include your
products as well as those of your competitors.

c Pro/ENGINEER/Creo
d
e
f
g

c Mentor Graphics
d
e
f
g

c CATIA
d
e
f
g
c NX
d
e
f
g

c Zuken
d
e
f
g

c Rhino
d
e
f
g

c Unigraphics
d
e
f
g
c SolidWorks
d
e
f
g
c Inventor
d
e
f
g

c Alias
d
e
f
g

c GibbsCAM
d
e
f
g

c MATLAB
d
e
f
g

c TeamCenter
d
e
f
g

c AutoCAD
d
e
f
g

c Windchill
d
e
f
g

c Ansys
d
e
f
g

c CAMWorks
d
e
f
g

c SpaceClaim
d
e
f
g

c MasterCAM
d
e
f
g

c Nastran
d
e
f
g

c Solid Edge
d
e
f
g

c ENOVIA
d
e
f
g

c Other (please specify)
d
e
f
g

5
6

*5. Do the CAD/CAM/CAE or PDM software programs your firm markets offer STEP
neutral format functionality?

j Yes
k
l
m
n
j No
k
l
m
n

Software Developer Questionnaire

STEP Functionality
6. What were the total expenditures to integrate STEP into your CAD/CAM/CAE or PDM
systems? (For each year, please answer in terms of total dollars. If you cannot estimate the
expenditures for a particular year, please leave the year blank.)
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013

Software Developer Questionnaire

STEP Functionality
7. If your products do not incorporate the STEP format (i.e. translator or import/export
capability), why not? Do you plan on incorporating STEP in the future? Please explain.
5
6

Software Developer Questionnaire

The Cost of Developing STEP Functionality
8. Was your company involved in STEP's development? If yes, please specify the research
areas and the time frame for participation.
Yes/No
Standards 

Start Period

End Period

6

6

6

6

6

6

6

6

6

development process 
(For example: 
attended meeting or 
reviewed draft 
standards)
Software development 
tools and testing tools 
(For example: 
supported the 
development of 
languages or libraries)
Demonstration and 
certification services 
(For example: 
participated in the 
CAx­IF project or 
other implementation 
forums)

Software Developer Questionnaire
9. If you answered YES to any of the above, what were your approximate annual
expenditures for those activities? Please indicate whether you are answering in terms of
labor hours or total dollars, e.g. “$100,000” or “500 hours”. For reference, 1 employee
working full­time on STEP development for 1 year is equivalent to 2080 hours.
Standards 
development process 
(For example: attended 
meeting or reviewed 
draft standards)
Software development 
tools and testing tools 
(For example: 
supported the 
development of 
languages or libraries)
Demonstration and 
certification services 
(For example: 
participated in CAx­IF 
or other 
implementation 
forums)

Software Developer Questionnaire

NIST's Activities
NIST has been active in the development and promotion of STEP in several ways: participation in the 
standards development process, development of software libraries and testing tools, demonstration 
of STEP capabilities, and provision of certification services. 

*10. Are you aware of NIST's contributions to STEP's development?
j Yes
k
l
m
n
j No
k
l
m
n

Software Developer Questionnaire

NIST's Impacts
In your opinion, which of the NIST contributions listed in the following table had an impact on the 
development of STEP?  

Please check the boxes in the table below if NIST's contributions led to: 
• A broader or more versatile STEP standard (quality improvement) 
• Acceleration of the development or adoption of STEP, and/or 
• Reductions in the cost of developing or adopting STEP 
11. Standards Development
Administrative 

Quality Improvements

Acceleration

Cost Reductions

c
d
e
f
g

c
d
e
f
g

c
d
e
f
g

c
d
e
f
g

c
d
e
f
g

c
d
e
f
g

c
d
e
f
g

c
d
e
f
g

c
d
e
f
g

c
d
e
f
g

c
d
e
f
g

c
d
e
f
g

c
d
e
f
g

c
d
e
f
g

c
d
e
f
g

c
d
e
f
g

c
d
e
f
g

c
d
e
f
g

c
d
e
f
g

c
d
e
f
g

c
d
e
f
g

c
d
e
f
g

c
d
e
f
g

c
d
e
f
g

c
d
e
f
g

c
d
e
f
g

c
d
e
f
g

c
d
e
f
g

c
d
e
f
g

c
d
e
f
g

Support
EXPRESS (ISO 
10303­11)
AP 203, Configuration 
controlled 3D designs 
of mechanical parts 
and assemblies
AP 209, Composite 
and metallic structural 
analysis and related 
design
AP 210, Electronic 
assembly, 
interconnect and 
packaging design
AP 214, Core data for 
automotive 
mechanical design 
processes
AP 227, Plant spatial 
configuration
AP 233, Systems 
engineering data 
representation
AP 238 ­ Application 
interpreted model for 
computer numeric 
controllers
AP 239, Product life 
cycle support

Software Developer Questionnaire
c
d
e
f
g

c
d
e
f
g

c
d
e
f
g

c
d
e
f
g

c
d
e
f
g

c
d
e
f
g

Quality Improvements

Acceleration

Cost Reductions

c
d
e
f
g

c
d
e
f
g

c
d
e
f
g

STEP Class Library

c
d
e
f
g

c
d
e
f
g

c
d
e
f
g

Expresso

c
d
e
f
g

c
d
e
f
g

c
d
e
f
g

STEP File Checker

c
d
e
f
g

c
d
e
f
g

c
d
e
f
g

Quality Improvements

Acceleration

Cost Reductions

c
d
e
f
g

c
d
e
f
g

c
d
e
f
g

c
d
e
f
g

c
d
e
f
g

c
d
e
f
g

AP 242, Managed 
model based 3d 
engineering (under 
development – 
replaces AP203 and 
AP214)
Semantic PMI 
Development

12. Software Development and Testing Tools
NIST EXPRESS 
Toolkit

13. Demonstration and Certification Services
CAx Implementor 
Forums
STEP certification 
services

14. How did you learn about NIST's contributions? In your view, what are NIST's most
beneficial activities?
5
6

Software Developer Questionnaire

NIST's Impacts
15. If one or more of NIST's activities led to cost reductions for your firm, what percentage
do you estimate those reductions to be?

16. Has STEP helped your products penetrate foreign markets?
j Yes
k
l
m
n
j No
k
l
m
n

Software Developer Questionnaire

NIST's Impacts

*17. Do you think that NIST's contributions accelerated your firm's adoption of STEP in
your products?

j YES (NIST accelerated your adoption of STEP)
k
l
m
n

j NO (NIST did not impact your adoption of STEP)
k
l
m
n

Software Developer Questionnaire

NIST's Impacts
18. If YES, by how many years did NIST accelerate your adoption of STEP?

Software Developer Questionnaire

Comments
19. Please provide any additional comments that would help us evaluate the cost of
integrating STEP into your CAD/CAM/CAE or PDM software products.
5
6

Software Developer Questionnaire

End of Questionnaire
20. We thank you for your participation. Please indicate below if your would like to receive
an email with a link to the final report once it is available.

j Yes, please send me an email
k
l
m
n
j No
k
l
m
n