China Leads Development of First International Smart Manufacturing Standard for Steel Industry

China has announced the publication of the world's first international standard for smart manufacturing within the steel industry. Titled "Smart Manufacturing Guidelines for the Iron and Steel Industry," the standard was developed under China's leadership, involving experts from Japan, the Netherlands, and France. It is intended to create a common, interoperable technological base for the global steel sector's digital transformation.

Smart manufacturing, driven by technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), digital twins, and artificial intelligence (AI), is increasingly becoming a core element in the steel industry's upgrade and high-quality development. Establishing a unified and open framework with common technical specifications is seen as crucial for aligning industry trends and fostering consensus.

The standard addresses the entire steel industry production chain, focusing on three core areas: intelligent design, intelligent equipment, and intelligent production. It provides systematic specifications for product research and development, as well as production process design. Furthermore, it categorizes equipment systems into five types: process, testing, logistics, energy, and environmental.

The guidelines also detail six functional modules for implementation: production planning, production process collaboration, intelligent quality control, intelligent equipment maintenance, intelligent logistics, and smart energy management. The standard differentiates between essential basic functions and advanced intelligent capabilities, offering a global reference for steel enterprises undertaking smart factory upgrades and digital system development.