TRACEABILITY VIA DIGITAL NAMEPLATE

In our interconnected world, where products span global markets and supply chains, it is imperative to maintain visibility and control over product lifecycle information. This is where the concept of a Digital Nameplate and Asset Administration Shell (AAS) comes into play, offering manufacturers a powerful tool to improve traceability, communication, and customer service.

Neoception® Digital Twin Infrastructure Viewer
Neoception® Digital Twin Infrastructure Viewer

WHAT IS THE DIGITAL NAME PLATE?

The Digital Name Plate is usually implemented via a machine-readable identifier (e.g.QR Code according to IEC 61406) which refers to a digital representation of essential information (e.g. relevant markings) associated with a physical product or asset. It is designed to be user-friendly and legally compliant and serves as a virtual identity tag, providing detailed information about the product’s specifications, components and manufacturing details. As there is a chance to update it continuously, even updates of the asset itself or the firmware installed can be stated. 

It is one of the most prominent applications related to the Digital Twin, as the replacement of paper-based product documentation.

Additionally, with the release of the updated “EU machinery regulation 2023”, providing product documentation in digital formats is now allowed in B2B contexts. This change makes the Digital Nameplate even more relevant and useful, fitting well with the latest digital and regulatory trends. 

KEY APPLICATIONS OF THE DIGITAL NAMEPLATE

  1. Product Documentation: It includes all the documentation you need such as user manuals, technical specifications, maintenance guides, and safety instructions.
  2. Asset Administration Shell (AAS): Often integrated with the concept of a digital twin, an AAS acts as a centralized platform that hosts the digital nameplate. It allows stakeholders to access and update real-time information about the asset.
  3. Identification and Tracking: Uses standardized and machine-readable identifiers like QR codes, data matrix code or RFID tags to uniquely identify each product. This enables quick access to detailed information by scanning the code with a mobile device and builds base for future interoperability.

STEPS TO IMPLEMENT A DIGITAL NAMEPLATE

Implementing Digital Nameplate completely changes how product information, maintenance records, and compliance details are managed. This technology enhances efficiency, traceability, and customer engagement by providing instant access to crucial data throughout the product lifecycle.

  1. Assess Information Availability:
    Ensure you have data about your product, including the components build into your products and their specifications. This may involve gathering existing documentation, technical specifications, and bills of materials (BOMs)
  2. Select a Digital Twin Infrastructure:
    Choose and procure a digital product like our Neoception Digital Twin Infrastructure. This platform will serve as the backbone for managing digital nameplates and associated data.
  3. Integrate Data with Digital Twin Infrastructure:
     If you are using our product, Neoception® Digital Twin Infrastructure, you need to establish a link between your existing systems (e.g., ERP, CRM) and your digital twin infrastructure. This integration ensures that product data, including Bill of Materials (“BOM”) and customer information, can be provisioned and updated.  Our product uniquely provides functions to perform ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) of data, ensuring seamless and real-time updates to your product information across all integrated systems. 
  4. Equip Products with Unique Identifiers:
    Ensure each product is equipped with a unique identifier such as a QR code or RFID tag. This step may require coordination with engineering to integrate identifiers into product designs if they are not already present.
  5. Configure and Deploy:
     If you are using our product, Neoception® Digital Twin Infrastructure, you have to deploy the digital twin infrastructure within your IT environment. Configure it according to your company’s specific needs, including defining data models and integrating with existing systems. This configuration ensures that the Neoception® Digital Twin Infrastructure fits into your operational workflows, enhancing efficiency and performance.
  6. Data Governance and Training:
    Define data governance policies and models to ensure consistency and accuracy of information managed within the digital twin infrastructure. Train relevant personnel, such as product managers or product data experts.

WHY CHOOSE NEOCEPTION DIGITAL TWIN INFRASTRUCTURE?

Neoception® Digital Twin Infrastructure offers a seamless, user-friendly integration solution. This standardized product can be easily purchased and integrated with internal systems using defined web services, allowing for independent setup or support from Neoception.

We ensure that information within the asset administration shell is always in line with your source systems. Updates to the asset’s information occur automatically, ensuring that every time an end user accesses the shell, they receive the latest details. This dynamic updating process is seamless and ensures end users are always informed of any changes, such as component recalls or important updates.

Post-implementation, managing data systems is straightforward. Adding new products or updating information on the front end doesn’t require extensive training or expertise, making it accessible to non-IT staff. The system is deployed on-premise, offering full control and independence from a software-as-a-service model.

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Neoception® Digital Twin Infrastructure