Product Change Notification: Device data from the manufacturer directly to the operator

The Asset Administration Shell (AAS) has been the subject of discussion within the industry for years. However, simply committing to a common standard is not enough – what matters is creating solutions that are easy for users to utilize. With the Product Change Notification (PCN), Eplan and Phoenix Contact are jointly demonstrating how processes between component manufacturers and software users can be revolutionized.

Many component manufacturers are all too familiar with the following problem: a device is delivered to a control cabinet manufacturer. It is then integrated into a machine and finally put into operation by a plant operator. But how can component manufacturers reach the end-user of their device if they have no idea where it has been installed?

“Manufacturers and mechanical engineering firms face the challenge of integrating product changes into their processes efficiently and reliably. With the Product Change Notification, Eplan and Phoenix Contact are jointly creating a practical solution to this challenge. We are using the Asset Administration Shell as a common standard to make relevant product changes available digitally and in a structured manner, thereby creating tangible added value for our customers.”

Dr Marco Litto

Senior Vice President Strategy & Corporate Program at Eplan

Eplan and Phoenix Contact provide a concrete real-world use case for AAS with PCN

PCN demonstrates how a component manufacturer can ensure that operators are informed about changes to their equipment, such as an update to the manufacturer’s software. To this end, Eplan and Phoenix Contact have developed a joint use case:

A manufacturer, in this case Phoenix Contact, modifies a component, discontinues it or provides a safety-related update.

This information is transmitted in a structured format and automatically delivered to the Eplan Data Portal, making it available in real time.

The design engineer receives a notification and can identify the projects or installations in which the affected item is used.

As a result, Eplan users receive targeted Product Change Notifications for the Phoenix Contact components they use.

“At the moment, we are taking the first step towards making high-quality product data available so that anyone can access it. However, the AAS offers much more. It also enables users to update data throughout the product lifecycle. This ultimately closes the data loop. A change to a component can trigger an automatic update to product data, even if the component has long been in use by the customer. That is our goal at Phoenix Contact.”

Gerald Lobermeier

Programme Manager at Phoenix Contact

Added value across process and organisational boundaries

With PCN, Eplan and Phoenix Contact demonstrate how the complex Asset Administration Shell concept can deliver tangible benefits for the industry: for design engineers, this means they no longer have to manually trawl through catalogues or recreate data when products are discontinued. Instead, affected bills of materials are automatically reconciled with available successor products during the engineering process. Previously, this was handled via countless emails – a method through which important information was often lost.

As a link between the various players in the industry, Eplan lays the foundation for a seamless flow of data. Companies can make relevant information available across departmental, process and organisational boundaries and utilize it to their advantage.

Do you still have questions?

We look forward to an open discussion with you!