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Digital Cali­bra­tion Certifi­cate via AAS

The Chal­lenge
We’re Tack­ling

When cali­bra­tion data is exchanged across compa­nies, from equip­ment vendors to service providers to end-users, it often encoun­ters incon­sis­tent formats, manual handling, and frag­mented systems. This raises several chal­lenges:

  • Lack of stan­dard­iza­tion as cali­bra­tion certifi­cates come in different formats and are some­times still paper-based
  • Cali­bra­tion data stored in isolated, propri­etary systems with limited inter­op­er­ability
  • Cross-company data exchange remains inef­fi­cient, relying on manual or semi-manual processes
  • Missing inte­gra­tion into digital life­cycle systems like Asset Admin­is­tra­tion Shells or Digital Product Pass­ports
  • Redun­dant and custom-built inter­faces needed for every system connec­tion
  • Limited scal­a­bility and trans­parency in regu­lated indus­tries, where compli­ance and trace­ability are crit­ical

Solving these chal­lenges is key to enabling consis­tent, compliant, and future-proof cali­bra­tion data exchange across the value chain.

Partic­i­pating
Members

What we’ve
done so far

To explore and drive forward the digi­tal­iza­tion of cali­bra­tion certifi­cates (DCC), the project team has taken a prac­tical, collab­o­ra­tive approach across multiple tracks. The project offi­cially launched in May 2025. While the team is still forming its working mode, several partic­i­pants already bring in substan­tial exper­tise in the field of DCC:

  • The struc­ture and seman­tics of the DCC format were devel­oped in collab­o­ra­tion with PTB and have reached produc­tion-level readi­ness for selected appli­ca­tions.
  • A dedi­cated AAS submodel for Digital Quality Docu­ments (covering DCC and DCR) is under devel­op­ment within an IDTA working group involving Siemens, Endress+Hauser, PTB, and others. A draft version was prepared in a previous Inter­Opera project and is now being refined, with public release expected in late 2025.
  • First imple­men­ta­tions are already underway: Siemens, Beamex, Bürkert, and Endress+Hauser are piloting the use of DCC, and tools like the AAS server and Twin­sphere are being adapted for inte­gra­tion.
  • The PTB-led DCC project has completed the first phase (digi­tal­iza­tion of certifi­cate content), is progressing on Digital Cali­bra­tion Request (DCR), and now focuses on DCC exchange using AAS.
  • Boehringer Ingel­heim is acting as an early adopter, defining real use cases and aiming to phase out manual certifi­cate handling across more than 100 suppliers.

Why this project
matters and for who

This project brings value to a broad range of stake­holders. For the phar­ma­ceu­tical industry (e.g. Boehringer Ingel­heim), it simpli­fies GMP compli­ance by replacing manual cali­bra­tion certifi­cates with stan­dard­ized, digital ones. Instru­ment manu­fac­turers and service providers like Siemens, Endress+Hauser, Beamex, or Bürkert benefit from reduced IT over­head and better customer inte­gra­tion.

Engi­neering tools such as Comos or firms like Tetra can embed cali­bra­tion into digital twins from the start. For plat­form and soft­ware providers like Comple­ment, DCC show­cases real AAS use cases. And for orga­ni­za­tions like PTB, IDTA, and the Open Industry 4.0 Alliance, it proves that struc­tured, cross-company data exchange works — even in regu­lated envi­ron­ments.

project
Deliv­er­ables

Inte­gra­tion

Develop and docu­ment how to map the DCC and DCR into the AAS using the upcoming Digital Quality Docu­ments submodel

Demon­strator

PoC for cross-company inter­op­er­ability using real cali­bra­tion data for SPS 25

Feed­back

Vali­date and provide feed­back on the IDTA submodel, currently under devel­op­ment.

Ready To
Jump in?

We’re inviting contrib­u­tors and collab­o­ra­tors to join the Digital Cali­bra­tion Certifi­cate (DCC) initia­tive. This is not just about data formats, but about solving real chal­lenges together. Whether you come from industry, engi­neering, or soft­ware, your input helps shape how cali­bra­tion data flows across compa­nies. Join a growing commu­nity that turns complex require­ments into prac­tical, scal­able solu­tions that are open, inter­op­er­able, and ready for the real world.

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