IEC 63278-1-2023 PDF

Full title and description

Asset Administration Shell for industrial applications - Part 1: Asset Administration Shell structure. Defines the structure of a standardized digital representation of an asset (Asset Administration Shell, AAS) to provide uniform access to information and services and to enable trusted, secure information exchange between software applications for manufacturing and industrial assets.

Abstract

This part of IEC 63278 specifies the AAS structure used to represent assets across the full asset life cycle (from concept to end-of-life) and across industrial domains and process types (discrete, continuous, batch and hybrid). It establishes the core building blocks, identification and referenced sub-model approach that enable semantic interoperability, lifecycle management and secure information access for physical, digital and intangible assets in industrial automation and smart manufacturing environments.

General information

• Status: International Standard (published).
• Publication date: 14 December 2023.
• Publisher: International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
• ICS / categories: 71.100.20 (Manufacturing automation / industrial IT and digitalisation).
• Edition / version: Edition 1.0.
• Number of pages: 149.

Scope

Specifies the structural model and information constructs of the Asset Administration Shell (AAS) for industrial applications. The document focuses on AAS representations for assets in manufacturing enterprises (products, equipment and hierarchical systems), and covers structures, properties and services needed to describe assets and expose their information to other systems. It is intended to apply across industrial sectors, to any industrial process type, and to assets that are physical, digital or intangible throughout their complete life cycle.

Key topics and requirements

• Definition of the AAS structural model (identifiers, AAS envelope and submodels).
• Rules for organizing and naming submodels and elements to support semantic interoperability.
• Requirements for asset identification, references and relationship modeling.
• Specification of information and service access patterns exposed by the AAS.
• Lifecycle considerations for AAS instances (creation, versioning, maintenance, retirement).
• Guidance to support cross-domain use (discrete, continuous, batch, hybrid processes).
• Foundations for secure, trusted exchange (interoperability enabler; security details addressed in follow-on parts).

Typical use and users

Used by industrial automation architects, OEMs, system integrators, industrial IT and OT teams, digital twin and asset management software vendors, researchers and standards bodies. Typical uses include creating interoperable digital representations of machines, production lines, products and services for integration, analytics, condition monitoring, predictive maintenance and lifecycle management.

Related standards

IEC 63278-1 is part of the IEC 63278 series (Administration Shell for industrial applications). Companion parts address the information meta-model and security provisions (e.g., IEC 63278-2 and IEC 63278-3) and further parts and application documents are progressing in the IEC work programme. Regional/adopted versions exist as EN/ISO harmonised publications in various countries and national bodies. These related parts extend the structure defined in Part 1 with detailed meta-model definitions, bindings and security guidance for practical deployment.

Keywords

Asset Administration Shell, AAS, digital twin, asset representation, industrial automation, smart manufacturing, interoperability, submodel, semantic model, lifecycle management.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: IEC 63278-1:2023 defines the structural model for an Asset Administration Shell (AAS) — a standardized digital representation of an asset used to expose information and services in industrial applications.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers the AAS structure: identifiers, the AAS envelope, submodels and organizing principles needed to represent assets across their life cycle and enable information exchange and interoperability between software applications in manufacturing and industrial domains.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Manufacturers, OEMs, system integrators, software vendors (digital twins, MES, PLM, asset management), industrial IT/OT architects, researchers and conformity assessment bodies focused on industrial interoperability.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: It is current (first edition published 14 December 2023). The IEC catalogue lists a stability date (planned review) through 2026 for this edition; follow-on parts and regional adoptions continue to be published or developed alongside it.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — IEC 63278 is a multipart series. Part 1 defines structure; subsequent parts address the information meta-model, security provisions and application guidance (IEC 63278-2, IEC 63278-3, etc.), which are at various stages of publication or development.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Asset Administration Shell (AAS), digital twin, submodel, semantic interoperability, asset lifecycle, industrial applications, manufacturing, standardised asset representation.