Considerations on IT systems interoperability in product development

This paper firstly presents the background of the research project aimed to: (i) building the formal models for representation of the product development context (entire body of data, information and engineering knowledge that evolves throughout the product development process); (ii) developing tools and methods for support of the product development context interoperability. After research introduction, review and systematization of the IT systems interoperability evolution are provided. Accordingly to the different computer and informational scientists' and experts' research results, different interoperability approaches are presented: custom coding, single standard, data warehouses, single systems, integration, and semantic-based information interoperability. In order to achieve the research goal, product development ontology harmonization is recognised as a main prerequisite for successful implementation of the newest computer technology and tools. The short overview on ontology definitions is provided. Different methodologies for building ontologies are summarized around tree major stages of the ontology life cycle i.e., building-mampulating-maintaining. Finally, directions of the next research steps are proposed