Process Automation Devices are used within Industrial Automation Systems of Chemicals, Oil & Gas, Food & Beverage, Power generation, Metals, Cement, Mining & Minerals, Pulp & Paper, Water & waste water and measure pressure, temperature, flow, level, etc. or position valves with control actuators. Process Automation Devices are often connected to Control Systems and Plant Asset Management.

For the lifecycle commissioning, operation or maintenance, a minimum common set of Process Automation Device parameters and functions is necessary. With the concepts of Industrie 4.0 and IoT, the lifecycle is extended and starts already with procurement, which uses Common Data Dictionaries (CDD) like IEC 61987 and eCl@ss. Each property (variable, parameter, etc.) within a CDD has a unique identifier (e.g. an IRDI).

This Process Automation Device Companion Specification defines the fieldbus protocol independent Information Model. This model includes a minimum set of parameters to provide interoperability and interchangeability for the main use cases of:

• Identification,
• Diagnostics,
• Process Values and
• Configuration

for Pressure, Temperature, Flow, Level, Control Actuator/Positioner applications. This Model includes support for the entire lifecycle.

The first release of PA-DIM concentrates on the NAMUR Device Core Parameter NE131 and NAMUR OPEN Architecture (NE175) use cases. The contents and security scope will be added in future versions of the PA-DIM Companion Specification and will address additional functionality such as write access, minimum cyber security configuration etc.

In relation to this companion specification, the IEC 62769, Field Device Integration (FDI) specification defines the device configuration (online/offline) with a PC tool or mobile device including the definition of the User Interface (UI).

The collaboration of FieldComm Group and OPC Foundation aim is a protocol independent information model.