NEMI launched the Data Exchange Convergence Project in early 2001 to "converge" GenCAM and ODB++ into a single XLM-based data exchange format. The goal: to enable accurate, efficient data exchange between the designers and manufacturers of printed circuit boards (PCBs) and printed circuit assemblies (PCAs). This NEMI project was completed in late 2001 and resulted in a recommendation for standardization that started with Valor's ODB++ (X) as a foundation and integrated missing elements from IPC's GenCAM. IPC approved the creation of a new standards committee (2-17) to develop this standard, and the group had its first meeting at IPC Expo in late March 2002. (NEMI project leaders Dana Korf of Sanmina-SCI and Henry Jurgens of Celestica are chairing the IPC standards committee.) The group is targeting the second quarter of 2003 for the first release of the data exchange standard. This release will cover board fabrication and assembly. Specifications are being developed so that additional features and capabilities can be easily added in future releases.
Standard
Convergence Recommendation
NEMI recommendation memo (12.17.02)
Industry feedback
Survey results: solution providers (9.21.01)
Survey results: users (11.7.01)
Questionnaire (PDF)
APEX 2002 (January 24, 2002)
"Data Exchange Convergence: Recommendation for Standards Initiation" Jim McElroy
"OEM Perspective" Dan O'Neill, Lucent Technologies
"An EMS Perspective" Henry Jurgens, Celestica
"Data Convergence: Why is it critical? (PWB perspective)" Dana Korf, Sanmina (presented by George Arrigotti, Intel)
APEX 2001 (January 15, 2001)
NEMI Data Exchange Convergence Project (PDF)
Call for participation (PDF)
Meeting summary