Call for Participation: Shaping a Reference Process for Technical Documentation of Cyber‑Physical Systems
Technical documentation is a key element of modern machines and industrial plants. At the same time, digitalization, connected production systems, and new regulatory frameworks—such as the EU Machinery Regulation and the upcoming Digital Product Passport—are fundamentally changing the requirements for creating and managing technical information.
In mechanical and plant engineering, technical documentation is increasingly developed across distributed value networks. Manufacturers, suppliers, system integrators, and operators all contribute to the creation, maintenance, and use of technical information. However, standardized cross‑company processes that support this collaboration in a systematic way are still largely missing.
To address this challenge, a reference process for the lifecycle‑oriented technical documentation of cyber‑physical systems is currently being developed. The goal is to define a standardized approach that structures the creation, organization, and delivery of technical information across the entire lifecycle of production systems while ensuring compatibility with digital Industry 4.0 architectures.
The reference process aims to support companies—particularly small and medium‑sized enterprises—in making their documentation processes more efficient, transparent, and interoperable. At the same time, it will provide a foundation for future standardization and norm development activities.
Experts from industry, research, and technical communication are invited to contribute their knowledge and practical experience to the development of this reference process. In particular, real‑world use cases, insights from documentation projects, and requirements from engineering, service, or operations are highly valuable for the further development of the model.
If you are interested in contributing to the development of this reference process, we warmly invite you to participate. Together, we can advance the standardization and digital transformation of technical documentation.