Strategy

USPI strategy follows four main axes:

  1. Build on internal industry developments
  2. Build critical industry alignment starting with Plant owners
  3. Improve dialogue with Government bodies on when to adopt ISO standards for safe operations
  4. 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

  1. After 10 years of standards development, no ISO standards for product model data adopted in process industry.
  2. However, plant owners, EPCs and equipment vendors have adopted and are using internal (company and corporate) product model data standards
  3. The process industry now has sufficient 'data readiness' to move from internal to international standards.
  4. 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?

  1. Plant owners see no solid business case to impose standards.
  2. Industry fragmentation perpetuates software vendor proprietary standards.
  3. Governments do not demand these international standards because they see not linkage of standards to societal needs.
  4. Consortia are fragmented and sometimes in competition
  5. 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:

  1. Supply chain begins to see business case
  2. Governments see value of standards in safe operations and will become more insistent.
  3. Industry demands use of standards by Software Vendors.
  4. Consortia get better steering from industry.