The Environmental Materials Information Technology (EMIT) Consortium today announced technology upgrades that are being delivered in a new version of the GRANTA MI:Restricted Substances software from Granta Design. This collates input from Consortium member organizations on how to refine the underlying data structures (known as the ‘schema’) of the system. The resulting new template database can be applied by any users of the software to improve existing implementations or quickly create new ones.
The EMIT Consortium is pioneering an effective approach to managing restricted substances risk—a problem which, left unmanaged, can result in multi-million dollar implications including: product redesigns due to material obsolescence, diversion of resources to meet reporting obligations, and even costly legal liabilities for non-compliance. Members include Airbus Defense & Space, Airbus Helicopters, Boeing, Honeywell Aerospace, NASA, Rolls-Royce, and United Technologies Corporation. Granta provides the GRANTA MI software system used by members.
Through its twice-yearly meetings (most recently, hosted by Honeywell Aerospace in September) the Consortium has discussed and proposed a solution in which aerospace companies can manage their relevant in-house data (for example, on materials, substances, specifications, and coatings), and may link it to the best available reference information on restricted substances and the legislation, regulations, and standards that impact them. Designers and product stewards can run queries that quickly provide insight into the risks associated with materials, designs, or products. But the complexity, dynamic nature, and inter-relationships of the data involved makes building and maintaining the right data structures a major challenge. This challenge can only be overcome with a deep insight into the practical application of the system. This insight is precisely what the Consortium enables.
“We’re pleased to have contributed to the refinement of the EMIT database schema,” comments Peter Mezey of Boeing, and 2014 Chair of the EMIT Consortium. “The collaboration is helping members to develop practical approaches that will reduce their exposure to this major source of business risk.”
