PDES, INC. IS A JOINT INDUSTRY/GOVERNMENT EFFORT TO ACCELERATE THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL STANDARD STEP (STANDARD FOR THE EXCHANGE OF PRODUCT MODEL DATA). STEP IS TARGETED TO PROVIDE A COMPLETE, UNAMBIGUOUS, COMPUTER-SENSIBLE DESCRIPTION OF THE PHYSICAL AND FUNCTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF A PRODUCT THROUGHOUT ITS LIFE CYCLE. IT WILL ENABLE COMMUNICATIONS AND SHARING OF PRODUCT DATA BETWEEN AND WITHIN COMPANIES AND THEIR CUSTOMERS. PDES, INC., IN ITS THREE YEARS OF EXISTENCE, HAS HELPED TO DEVELOP THIS STANDARD. THE PROGRAM'S FOCUS IS ON DELIVERING TO THE MEMBER COMPANIES USEFUL METHODS, DRAFT APPLICATION PROTOCOLS, AND SOFTWARE TOOLS.