Making product data for plant components available digitally and at all times – that is the basic idea of the Digital Data Chain (DDC). Siemens is a pioneer in mapping the entire digital data chain as the company has now supplied Bayer’s Crop Science Division with several SITRANS P320 pressure transmitters with standardized ID links for unique object identification.
In process plants such as those at Bayer, various technical goods, plant components and equipment are used. For their correct planning, installation, commissioning, operation, cleaning, maintenance and servicing over the entire life cycle, information is required that is contained in the manufacturer’s specifications. This information can now be read out in the cloud in a standardized manner via a digital data chain and made available regardless of location. Behind the Digital Data Chain is the Digital Data Chain Consortium (DDCC), a cross-industry association of more than 50 companies in the process industry founded in 2021. The aim is to create standards and platforms for the exchange of information among each other.

Transfer all information to
the ERP system via scan

Three technologies underlie the data consistency of the digital data chain: the automatic identification of plant components (according to IEC 61406-1), digital manufacturer information (according to VDI guideline 2770) for standardized data provision and a cloud-based information platform (IEP – Information Exchange Platform).
The minimum requirements for a globally unique identification of physical objects are specified in the international standard IEC 61406-1. Based on this standard, Siemens is delivering more and more devices with such an ID link, which enables access to a cloud-based backend via which the product information is provided. ▪ ds