This is a working group under VDMA Integrated Assembly Solutions department. The purpose of the IJT group is to define data models and data access standards for various joining techniques such as Tightening, Gluing, Riveting, Flow Drill Fastening, etc.
Assembling products by joining parts together is a key operation in many industries. There are obviously countless differences between gluing, welding, riveting, etc., but also surprisingly many characteristics are common as given below:
- There is often a tool that executes the joining.
- There is often some device controlling the joining process such as a processor, computer, or PLC.
- There is often a program of some sort that governs the joining process.
- There is often a digital result of the joining process that may both influence the overlying assembly process and be stored to provide product traceability.
- There could be an operator guidance to help the operator determine the steps involved in the joining process.
- There could be a representation of the joint as part of the digital twin of the product being assembled.
- There is often a need from external systems to select or influence the joining operation, such an MES system, a station PLC, location system, or a barcode scanner.
The Industrial Joining Technologies companion specification endeavors to find the best balance between the models used in all joining technologies and the models specific to an area.
Joining is often tightly connected with other industrial processes such as vision (for identification), or robotics (for location), so special attention has been put on harmonization with other VDMA companion specifications, to strive for seamless integration from a customer’s perspective.
Every joining technique could define their own standard specification where the common types defined in the base specification will be re-used across the joining techniques.
Examples: Result Management, Asset Management, Event Management, Joining Process Management, Joint Management, etc. are common use cases for multiple joining technologies.
The following figure describes the taxonomy of the Industrial Joining Technologies workgroup.
