VDE unveils fifth edition of the German Standardization Roadmap Industrie 4.0

Industrie 4.0 represents a fundamental shift in the way we approach manufacturing and production processes. This involves advanced, interconnected production that supports manufacturing by increasing productivity, energy efficiency and sustainability. At the same time, it creates new products, tasks and jobs across various sectors of the economy. This transformation has far-reaching impact on the way companies manufacture and improve their products, strengthening competitiveness and benefiting both businesses and society as a whole.

In an increasingly digital world and economy, standardisation is also key to the successful adaptation to Industrie 4.0. As more and more devices and machines require interoperability for data exchange, standards are necessary to enable harmonised interfaces for machine-to-machine communication. Furthermore, it ensures a certain level of security, uniformity and consistency. In addition, the need to constantly adapt to technological developments and industrial demands requires a strategic planning of standardisation to ensure success in such a dynamic environment. An example of this is the German Standardization Roadmap Industrie 4.0.

German Standardization Roadmap Industrie 4.0 fifth edition

Dr Marvin Böll (German Commission for Electrotechnical, Electronic & Information Technologies, DKE), unveiled the fifth edition of the German Standardization Roadmap Industrie 4.0 to 40 representatives of Mexican industry and Mexican standardisation bodies during an online seminar. The event was held on 5 September 2023 and was co-hosted by the Global Project Quality Infrastructure Mexico (GPQI) and Industrial Transformation Mexico (ITM) as part of their 2023 Roadshow series.

The roadmap serves as a landscape report that provides direction and actionable recommendations for Industrie 4.0. Particularly  three factors are essential: interoperability, autonomy, and sustainability. By promoting technical harmonisation, this roadmap aims to foster cooperation and synergy within the Industrie 4.0 ecosystem.

One of the highlights of Marvin Böll's presentation was the introduction to the Digital Product Passport for Industrie 4.0 (DPP4.0). This innovative concept integrates requirements of the European Union with established Industrie 4.0 principles. The DPP4.0 concept simplifies the documentation and exchange of product information within the industrial ecosystem, streamlines processes and ensures regulatory compliance.

Cooperation between Mexico and Germany on Industrie 4.0  

The event successfully promoted an exchange of insights on the importance of internationally harmonised standards and guiding documents such as the Standardization Roadmap for the development of Industrie 4.0. Dr Böll pointed out the potential for a tailored approach for the implementation of a standardisation roadmap in Mexico that takes the specific needs, conditions and objectives of the country into account. This approach highlights the adaptability and global relevance of Industrie 4.0 principles, showcasing how they can be customised to benefit diverse industries and economies worldwide.  

Within the German-Mexican Dialogue on Quality Infrastructure, both countries continue to collaborate on the QI principles for Industrie 4.0.