By Rob Bodington, Technical Fellow at Eurostep
At Eurostep, we have developed our ShareAspace software to consolidate engineering data from diverse sources to create and maintain a digital thread of product information. Our goal? To enable through-life support of complex assets like ships, submarines, power generators, and cars from cradle to grave.
Inevitably such engineering data is authored in a multitude of different systems owned by different stakeholders in the extended enterprise. Apart from the obvious technical challenges of consolidating often conflicting data into a digital thread, a perhaps more significant challenge is managing the intellectual property implicit in the data and the necessity to establish appropriate commercial frameworks to allow rightful access to the information.
The data dilemma in complex asset handover
When a complex asset is transferred to an operator, the operator must have access to the product data essential for its continued support and operation. Unfortunately, provision of and access to this data is often not explicitly called out when contracting for the asset. If the product data is contracted, the contracts often lack the specificity required to ensure that the data provided is both comprehensive and usable. Typically, these contracts include broad statements such as “all product data must be delivered in accordance with ISO 10303-239, S3000L, or other relevant standards.” While these standards set a foundation, the language used is frequently too vague, leading to ambiguity and potential conflicts down the line.
Key questions to consider when contracting for data:
- Scope and specificity: Does the contract clearly define the scope of data requested?
- Intellectual property: Does the contract express who owns the Intellectual Property of the data and the conditions of use?
- Semantic clarity: Are the semantics within the standard clear and unambiguous, ensuring all parties have the same understanding?
- Reference data: Does the standard explicitly mandate the necessary reference data, such as quantities, units, and part properties?
- Validation and format: Is there a specified data exchange format against which the data can be validated?
The SMART approach to contracting for information
To address these challenges, we advocate for a SMART approach to contracting for information. This approach draws inspiration from the SMART criteria often applied in requirements management. and is tailored specifically for the needs of data management in complex asset support.
S – Semantics:
Define the semantics of the data requirements clearly and unambiguously. This ensures that everyone involved—suppliers, operators, and maintainers—has a shared understanding of what is being asked for.
M – Measurable:
Set enforceable data quality KPIs within the contract. These metrics should be specific, quantifiable, and directly tied to the success of the asset’s operational lifecycle.
A – Accurate:
Provide a precise and detailed specification of the information required. Ambiguity in data requirements can lead to costly misunderstandings and inefficiencies.
R – Reasoned:
Request only what is necessary. Over-specifying data can lead to information overload, making it harder to extract actionable insights and increasing the cost of data management.
T – Timely:
State explicitly when the data is needed. Data delivered at the end of a contract may be too late to influence critical support solution development, which is often an integral part of product development.
Driving up data quality with SMART contracts
By adopting a SMART approach to contracting for information, we can significantly enhance data quality, leading to a reduction in through-life costs and improving the overall efficiency of asset management. Precision in contracting is not just about legal or commercial safeguards; it’s about ensuring that the right data, in the right format, is available at the right time, enabling operators to maintain complex assets effectively and efficiently throughout their lifecycle.
At Eurostep, we believe that being SMART about contracting for information is not just a best practice—it’s a necessity in today’s complex engineering landscape. As we continue to develop and refine our ShareAspace software, our commitment remains to provide solutions that not only meet the technical demands of our clients but also address the critical commercial and intellectual property challenges that come with managing complex assets.
