Open Standards (STEP/IGES)
Open standards in PLM are internationally defined, vendor-neutral formats and protocols for exchanging product data. The primary open standard is STEP (Standard for the Exchange of Product Model Data), ISO 10303, which defines neutral formats for 3D geometry (AP203, AP214), product structure, and managed model-based 3D engineering (AP242). IGES (Initial Graphics Exchange Specification) is an older neutral format for geometric data exchange, still in use for legacy interoperability. Open standards enable data exchange across heterogeneous tool environments without proprietary translators.
Why it matters
Open standards are the mechanism by which multi-vendor supply chains exchange product data without requiring all participants to use the same PLM platform. For aerospace and defense supply chains, STEP AP242 compliance is increasingly contractually required. Open standards also provide the technical foundation for PLM migration—without a neutral export format, migration is a data forensics exercise, not an engineering project.
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Cite this definition
Finocchiaro, Michael. “Open Standards (STEP/IGES).” DemystifyingPLM PLM Glossary, 2026, https://www.demystifyingplm.com/glossary/open-standards-step-iges