With the establishment of the VDMA Forum Manufacturing-X, the association is pursuing the goal of taking into account the increasing importance of data rooms as an important basis for new, digital business models. "We have been talking about Industry 4.0 for over ten years - now is the time to take the next step and raise the topic to a new level. The emerging data spaces are opening up new opportunities for companies to develop business models and monetize their own data. There is huge potential here and we must see the establishment of a data ecosystem that enables the trusting exchange of data between companies based on open standards as a unique opportunity for Europe," emphasizes Hartmut Rauen, Deputy Managing Director of the VDMA.

The tasks of the Forum Manufacturing-X

The new forum will be operationally managed by Dr. Marc Hüske. Reinhard Heister, who has already headed the Industry 4.0 Forum for the past three years. The central tasks of the new forum primarily include representing the interests of association members with regard to Manufacturing-X, orchestrating all activities into an overall picture, creating interfaces to relevant initiatives, projects and organizations outside the VDMA, providing information on ongoing topic-related activities, knowledge transfer and networking. "Our first priority is to make Manufacturing-X known and the technical concept behind it understandable for our member companies. It is important to highlight the added value that multilateral and interoperable data networking offers for new digital business models. A company's own data sovereignty is always maintained, as data exchange is based on joint agreements and rules. The use of the data is tied to a specific purpose and can be limited in time," explains Forum Director Dr. Hüske.

Transfer of the VDMA Industry 4.0 Forum

With the Manufacturing-X forum, the association will build on what has been successfully developed over the last decade by the VDMA Industry 4.0 Forum, with the aim of further disseminating and advancing the topic. Since 2014, the VDMA Industry 4.0 Forum has been dealing with all issues relating to the intelligent networking of machines and processes in industry and providing actionable recommendations. The results of this era include the further development of the global language of production, which has been bundled in the VDMA 'Machine Information Interoperability' department since 2021 and currently offers more than 70 standardized machine interfaces based on OPC UA and the associated umati initiative. The interoperability achieved is an important basis for Manufacturing-X and supports the maxim of 'plug-and-work on the store floor'. The 'Wireless Communications for Machines' working group has made it possible to develop industrial-grade wireless connectivity for intelligently networked production.

In addition, the IDTA (Industrial Digital Twin Association) has been working since its foundation on further developing the administration shell as a basis for standardized digital twins. In addition, around 600 VDMA companies are involved in the Software and Digitalization Association and act as an important transformer of the industry, as mechanical engineering is at the heart of the development of Industry 4.0 and Manufacturing-X in its dual role as a user and provider of corresponding solutions.

Manufacturing-X at the Hannover Messe: Hall 8, Stand D16.