Knowledge · Machine builders
What is the Asset Administration Shell (AAS), and what does it bring to service?
By Gerd Bart, Founder and Managing Director · Updated
The short answer
The Asset Administration Shell (AAS) is the industry standard for the digital twin of a machine. It describes a machine's data so that any system can read it, whichever manufacturer built the machine. Transaction-Network is a member of the Industrial Digital Twin Association (IDTA) and keeps the machine record in the AAS standard, on request in your customer's SAP via the SAP adapter.
What the Asset Administration Shell is
The Asset Administration Shell is an international standard (IEC 63278). In its specifications the Industrial Digital Twin Association (IDTA) defines how it is structured, which interfaces read it and what the data means. The content sits in submodels for which the IDTA publishes templates, for example:
Digital nameplate.
Manufacturer, type, serial number and the other nameplate details in a fixed form (IDTA 02006).
Technical data.
A machine's characteristics in a common frame (IDTA 02003).
Handover documentation.
Manuals and documents for the machine, based on VDI 2770 (IDTA 02004).
Why it matters in service
Your customer runs machines from many manufacturers. If each supplies its data in its own form, the record stays patchwork. The Asset Administration Shell creates a manufacturer-independent frame in which machines, systems and companies understand the same data.
For service this means: a machine's nameplate, documents and parts list can be exchanged between manufacturer, operator and their systems without anyone retyping them.
What Transaction-Network does with it
Machine record in the AAS standard.
Every machine at your customer has its record with parts list, software version, maintenance and faults.
On request in your customer's SAP.
The SAP adapter brings the machine record into your customer's SAP.
Member of the IDTA.
We contribute to open standards for the digital twin.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What is the Asset Administration Shell?
The standardized digital twin of a machine: its data in a fixed form that any system can read. It is based on the IEC 63278 standard and the IDTA specifications.
Is the Asset Administration Shell the same as a digital twin?
It is the industry standard for one. A digital twin without a standard stays tied to one vendor; any system can read the Asset Administration Shell.
Who defines the Asset Administration Shell?
The Industrial Digital Twin Association (IDTA), with its specifications and submodel templates. Transaction-Network is a member of the IDTA.
Can the machine record go into our SAP?
On request, yes, via the SAP adapter.
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