Challenged by supply data transparency? Read on about the IDTA

[dduncan]

PTC just hosted the Industrial Digital Twin Association (IDTA) at our Boston headquarters last week for 3 days.  PTC's Florian Harzenetter is a member of the IDTA board and are working with them to expand in North America.

IDTA and its members have collaborated a lean and effective asset data exchange method called the Asset Administration Shell (AAS).

It's impressed a broad industrial, electronics, and automotive manufacturers so much that it's being adopted as the data exchange format in value chain standards like Manufacturing-X and Catena-X.  Part of AAS directly addresses supply chain interchanges to facilitate Digital Product Passports.  It also extends beyond required passport data to offer additional asset data towards other use cases, including data needed for revenue-generating aftermarket services and other circular business models.

It's worth a look, and happy to discuss more about it in this discussion chat or in a call.  We're evaluating both PLM and SLM integrations with AAS and welcome your feedback.

Sincerely,

Dave

[FabioSambinello]

Hi,

We are looking with great confidence at the integration of PTC platforms with AAS; it is a very important step toward obtaining reliable LCA reports through our BOMs in Windchill.
It must be possible to leverage the Digital Product Passport for all commercial (buy) components used in Windchill BOMs, in addition to having a standard for processing the same type of data for design components created by our engineering department.
Also the Windchill integrations with ECAD platforms (i.e. Eplan) must manage this standard, in order to avoid cross-referencing of data from other sources.

When will be available an official PTC roadmap integration with AAS?

Thanks, Fabio

[dduncan]

Hi Fabio,

Thank you for your notes, and we're happy to discuss your AAS needs.

We're currently looking at 3 scenarios in the PTC portfolio for AAS (roadmap scope and timing isn't committed yet):

1. Selecting a supplier component to add in a BOM.  We demonstrated this concept at Hannover Messe.

2. Exporting a "Day 1" asset passport message from a Windchill BOM (somewhat similar to an "as designed" ERP export, but in AAS format and with a different mix of attributes to fill in a passport).  **Note that a passport may still need some subsequent approvals/assurances based on regional regulations, but Windchill should be able to manage much of the needed data and files.

3. Managing an asset life cycle in ServiceMax Asset Hub with AAS data exchange support.  Example:  Windchill exports a "Day 1" AAS file to Asset Hub, and Asset Hub manages the asset through it life, including circular part/product recoveries.

You also point out that PTC's support of AAS is only half of the need.  The other half is market adoption - AAS participation from other vendors, like ECAD providers, and companies within your supply chain.  It's looking quite good today for European machine builders, and we're assisting IDTA with expanding adoption in your industrial eco system.

In Europe (Munich), PTC's Florian Harzenetter represents PTC on the IDTA board and is also PTC's global industrial vertical lead - a good contact for you.

Regards,

Dave