New forum for standardization will strengthen the Swedish industry
As the industry is digitized, the pressure for coordination and cooperation on standards and interoperability between different systems increases. In a joint initiative, RISE, the Royal Institute of Technology, Lund University, the Swedish Institute for Standards and Automation Region are therefore establishing a new knowledge platform for standardization in the digitalized industry
– The ability to manage standards will be crucial for Swedish companies' opportunities to be globally competitive, says Daniel Boqvist, program manager for research and innovation at Automation Region. Standards and interoperability must become a strategic issue for Swedish industrial companies of all sizes.
Forums for standardization in digitalized industry will offer insights into the design of standards, related research and practical application in the digital industry to Swedish industrial companies. Through workshops, seminars and conferences, companies can take part in guidance and concrete guidelines on how standards can be implemented and contribute to creating value.
Initiated by experts
The organizations behind the new initiative contribute a wide range of expertise and experience in industrial standardization.
The Swedish Institute for Standards
The Swedish Institute for Standards is Sweden's representative in the international standardization body ISO and in the European equivalent CEN. SIS thus represents Swedish interests when global standards are developed.
– A central part of our assignment is to engage Swedish companies in discussions and committees for standardization in various areas, says Ann-Sofie Sjöblom, project manager at SIS. Companies get an early insight into developments and the opportunity to influence future standards.
RISE
The RISE Research Institute conducts extensive work with standardization and testing in its various activities. Per Gullander, researcher at RISE, is the project manager for the new forum and he sees a development where production development is becoming increasingly complex with many integrated subsystems.
– Efficient handling and communication of information is increasingly central to these processes, says Per Gullander. To succeed in system integration, a consensus on interfaces between subsystems is also required. Common standards reduce uncertainty and the risk of making the wrong investment decisions.
Lund University
The Department of Automatic Control at Lund University has participated in the development of several new standards for the smart industry, including a focus on interoperability, integration and architecture for production systems. The standards are important for companies to be able to make rapid adjustments and renew their production and products.
– It takes great flexibility to manufacture customized products in high volumes, says Charlotta Johnsson, professor at Lund University. Companies that manage this in a cost-effective way gain great competitive advantages and we can see that international standards are a key component to success.
Royal Institute of Technology
The Department of Production Engineering at the Royal Institute of Technology has for a long time explored digitized information and how model-based working methods can make product development more efficient and creative. Standardization is a prerequisite for different IT systems to be able to share models in a smooth way.
– Methods for modeling and handling digital information are the basis for the sustainable business models of the future, where information is seen as the most important asset and means of trade, says Gunilla Sivard, project manager at KTH.
Starts in the spring
In 2018, the Swedish government launched a standardization strategy that emphasizes the importance of standardization for innovation and global competition. Industry standards are considered a strategic tool that creates leverage for next-generation technology. Forum for standardization in digital industry will help Swedish industrial companies to realize the potential and benefits of common standards.
– Now we begin the process of ensuring that Sweden maintains a leading position when the industrial landscape becomes more and more digital, says Daniel Boqvist.
Forum for standardization in digitalized industry will be launched in the spring of 2021 with several sub-projects and activities. First out is the workshop Interoperability and standards in digitalised industry, which will be held on the 22ndof April. Please contact Daniel Boqvist for more information.