Deep Dive

Administration tray

Implementation of the " Asset Administration Shell " using the wire harness value chain as an example.

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Christian Kosel

Research coordinator ARENA2036

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Supported by the BMWE

To the BMWE

Contents of the Deep Dive on the " Asset Administration Shell " and the project wrap-up "AAS4WH"

About 30 participants gathered for the Deep Dive to take an in-depth look at the Asset Administration Shell ( Asset Administration Shell , AAS) as an interoperable, standardized digital twin. The event was marked by an open, lively exchange—numerous questions from the audience attested to the high level of interest and were expressly welcomed by the organizers and speakers. The focus was on the Asset Administration Shell as a key technology for implementing end-to-end digitalization. Its standardized, vendor-neutral structure facilitates the integration of a wide variety of systems, reduces development effort and costs, and creates a transparent, consistent data foundation for informed decisions, more efficient processes, and new use cases. The AAS thus forms a future-proof foundation for networked value creation in the spirit of Industry 4.0.

Thematic insights in the Deep Dive

Digital product catalog featuring Asset Administration Shell

It was shown how a standardized product catalog can be created on the basis of the AAS. This creates clear interfaces and terminology, promotes the reusability of data and improves transparency in product development and communication. It also enables a connection to eCommerce systems with new use cases.

Change management along the value chain

Asset Administration Shell enables the structured and traceable documentation of changes to products and processes. Particularly in the complex environment of wiring harnesses, it ensures consistency and more efficient coordination among various stakeholders.

Security concepts for AAS and data spaces

Security aspects were also examined in detail - with a focus on access controls such as RBAC (Role-Based Access Control) and ABAC (Attribute-Based Access Control) as well as the application of policies in the context of distributed data spaces (e.g. EDC).

Hands-On Activities: What's Next After " AAS4WH "

Although the project AAS4WH has officially concluded, key aspects are being actively continued, and other domains may also be incorporated as needed. Interested parties can get involved through the following opportunities to participate and thereby derive their own benefits:

AAS Tech Forum
A monthly forum for discussion focused on practical use cases, technical challenges, and application scenarios for the Asset Administration Shell.
Product Catalog & Asset Administration Shell – Thinking About Digital End-to-End Integration Together
Collaboration to further develop a seamless digital product catalog based on the AAS—as the foundation for industrial digitalization.
Asset Administration Shell & data spaces
Helping to integrate the Asset Administration Shell into federated data spaces —for secure, controlled, and interoperable data exchange.
Utilization of the project results from AAS4WH
Further development and industrial application of the concepts, data models, and demonstrators developed in the project—including beyond the “ Wire Harness ” industry.

Conclusion

The Deep Dive impressively demonstrated just how versatile and practical the " Asset Administration Shell " can be. It serves as a central foundation for systematically tapping into the potential of Industry 4.0—both today and in the future. While the " AAS4WH " project may have concluded, the further development of the " Asset Administration Shell " continues with great dedication at ARENA2036.

Here you can download the complete Deep Dive slide set.

Overview

The use of the “ Asset Administration Shell ” as a standardized, interoperable digital twin is particularly beneficial because it enables cross-vendor compatibility and seamless integration. Thanks to its uniform structure, different systems can be easily interconnected, which significantly facilitates digitization and reduces costs and development effort. At the same time, the “ Asset Administration Shell ” provides a future-proof foundation because it is based on open standards and can be flexibly expanded. Asset Administration Shell increases transparency by making all relevant asset information available in a structured format, thereby supporting more efficient processes and well-informed decisions. Overall, Asset Administration Shell plays a crucial role in fully realizing the potential of Industry 4.0.

As part of the event, the project “AAS4WH — Asset Administration Shell for the Wire Harness ” will celebrate its conclusion. The setting could hardly be more fitting: By looking toward the future of vehicle connectivity, the project participants will showcase what has been achieved in recent years.

For more information on the project "AAS4WH — Asset Administration Shell for the Wire Harness," visit the project page.

Agenda

Time	Program item	Speaker
15:30 - 15:40	Project Overview AAS4WH	Christian Kosel ARENA2036 Markus Rentschler ARENA2036
15:40 - 15:55	Presentation of the project demonstrator	Christian Kosel ARENA2036
3:55 p.m. – 4:20 p.m.	Deep Dive Topic 1: AAS product catalog	Markus Rentschler ARENA2036 Torsten Hansen Kostal Mario Angos Coroplast
16:20 - 16:45	Deep Dive Topic 2: Implementation of change management in the value chain of the wire harness	Christian Kosel ARENA2036 Melanie Stolze Ifak Rene Fischer Fraunhofer IESE
16:45 - 17:10	Deep Dive Topic 3: Security concept of AAS (RBAC/ABAC) and EDC (Policies)	Christian Kosel ARENA2036 Pascal Neuperger Komax
17:10 - 17:30	Identifying and defining opportunities for participation	Christian Kosel ARENA2036 Markus Rentschler ARENA2036

Provisional agenda - subject to change.