Data Business Policy

Objectives of the Subproject

The most valuable resource of our time is data. On one hand, it is essential to utilize the data treasures stored within companies or generated by machines effectively. On the other hand, according to the Asset Administration Shell concept, even more data is generated. Asset Administration Shells enable the structured capture of data from the production process or product lifecycle. This means that those who develop ideas for business models to leverage data for value creation can generate a new revenue stream. Subproject 7 aims to develop a concept that enables shared data usage for the wire harness, considering different value creation partners and access rights. Access can be managed, and access rights could be granted for a fee.

Work Focus

In the advertising industry, it has long been common to have websites filled with personalized advertisements. There are valuable lessons to be learned here. Firstly, giving away data can be a way to earn money. Secondly, the focus is not on advertising but rather on the technology behind it and whether it can be used for negotiation strategies along the wire harness. The "Bidding" system, which quickly decides who gets what and at what price, is one such example. Pay-per-use models, later offered by service providers, are also conceivable. By adopting the approach of SP 7, new business models can emerge. For instance, when Tier 1 (system supplier) wants to obtain quality data from Tier 2 (component supplier), Tier 2 can provide a price and limit data access for a specific period. Monetization refers to a business model where a data owner charges the requester. Depending on the negotiated contract, the requester may access the data once or multiple times. Equally important in this context are rights and role concepts that need to be defined: Who is allowed to read, write, or modify the data? Data Business Policy, Data Governance, and Monetization, in conjunction with automated planning processes, address the crucial point that data always remains with its owner, and access rights are granted. Naturally, data security must also be ensured.

Subproject 7 consists of three work packages. The central question is: How do we want to handle data? The first step involves gathering and analyzing requirements, followed by developing a concept for data governance. Additionally, concepts for data security will be worked out, and a solution will be found for offering data as a service. Finally, all approaches will be tested in a pilot project.

Work Status

Subproject 7 began with a kick-off event in December 2022. Initially, the 95 requirements compiled in Subproject 3 were used as a basis. These requirements were further condensed, resulting in 38 relevant requirements for data governance. For example, a customer wants to access the latest versions of process data, requiring user access to the process data. This clusters into 8 groups of requirements. Similarly, 14 requirements were defined for accessing product data.

Next Steps

In January, the partners participated in a workshop, exchanging ideas about the requirements. The next step is to define a use case that covers the most important requirements and address questions about data access and availability. For instance, determining the level of detail a user is allowed to access the data. This is all done while taking data protection into account and ensuring data sovereignty. It also involves defining roles, rules, and responsibilities.

Furthermore, a subcontract will be awarded to the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics (IML). Their task will be to realize an automated legally secure contract conclusion based on negotiation processes between Asset Administration Shells and offer solutions for the "automated establishment of trust."

Expected Results

The requirements analysis is completed, and there is a written concept for handling data from all Asset Administration Shells. Using pilot projects, the partners in the value chain can now leverage opportunities for revenue from digital services. Additionally, a decentralized solution will be developed in connection with suitable interfaces like the Eclipse Dataspace Connector (EDC), enabling the negotiation of digital contracts between individual value chain partners.