The Global Production Language enables smart manufacturing

Digitalization and networking are changing the function and life cycle of machines and systems. The availability of machine and component data in the form of a uniform language is the key to productivity advances. Interoperable communication in production is a foundation for this. Machines and plants must be able to exchange data without obstacles. This is the only way intelligent and networked production can function. OPC UA - OPC UA stands for Open Platform Communications Unified Architecture - is the key. It is a framework for industrial interoperability. Platform-independent and secure data can be exchanged. A powerful metamodel for describing the data represents the grammatical framework of the "Global Production Language" and the VDMA is strongly committed to filling the framework with standardized vocabulary, the so-called Companion Specifications. The goal is to enable "Plug & Produce" in the industry. Currently, over 40 working groups from 20 VDMA organizational units are working together with more than 600 companies from all over the world on the creation of OPC UA Companion Specifications for their respective industries. The commitment of the companies is impressive and shows the high relevance of OPC UA for the entire mechanical and plant engineering industry. With umati - universal machine technology interface - the VDMA is even going one step further and pushing the real implementation of the Global Production Language in practice. This community stands for the dissemination and adoption of the Global production Language globally with a strong marketing and an industry driven demonstrator.