USPI strategy follows four main axes:
- Build on internal industry developments
- Build critical industry alignment starting with Plant owners
- Improve dialogue with Government bodies on when to adopt ISO standards for safe operations
- Formulate common industry requirements for Software vendors
Background
During the period Sep 2004 - April 2005 a graduate study was done on the success of standardisation in process industry and ways to accelerate the process. The key findings of this work were:
Current status of adoption ofd international standards
- After 10 years of standards development, no ISO standards for product model data adopted in process industry.
- However, plant owners, EPCs and equipment vendors have adopted and are using internal (company and corporate) product model data standards
- The process industry now has sufficient 'data readiness' to move from internal to international standards.
- In line with the USPI-NL Roadmap, process industry now gradually starts adopting ISO standards for exchange and storage of product model data.
Why are international standards not being used?
- Plant owners see no solid business case to impose standards.
- Industry fragmentation perpetuates software vendor proprietary standards.
- Governments do not demand these international standards because they see not linkage of standards to societal needs.
- Consortia are fragmented and sometimes in competition
- Slow ISO consensus process coupled with seeking "ideal standards" is delaying usable standards delivery
In contrast with process industry the automotive industry has successfully developed and implemented STEP standards.
- Exchange of 2D/3D geometrical CAD data
- Exchange of PDM data
- Long-term archiving, advanced pilots take place
- High industry representation in consortia
· synergy and cooperation between consortia
· implementer forums - Participation (large) software providers
o forced by OEM and large suppliers - Smaller providers did participate
- Non-disclosure agreements
- Rrequirement-driven approach from user community
- Pragmatic approach and early involvement
- Project teams develop standards before 'going ISO'
- Government regulations accelerate adoption (long-term archiving, 99 year rule in aerospace)
Acceleration of standards adoption is expected in process industry because:
- Supply chain begins to see business case
- Governments see value of standards in safe operations and will become more insistent.
- Industry demands use of standards by Software Vendors.
- Consortia get better steering from industry.