A coalition of industry leaders, including Clean Energy and Smart Manufacturing Innovation Institute (CESMII), the Labs Network Industrie 4.0 (LNI 4.0), the Digital Twin Consortium, the ECLASS e.V., the Industrial Digital Twin Association (IDTA), the OPC Foundation (OPCF), the VDMA and the ZVEI, have announced a unified system architecture to support the Digital Product Passport (DPP). The architecture combines technologies like the Asset Administration Shell, OPC UA, and ECLASS, allowing manufacturers to build DPPs using existing OPC UA investments and make them available across supply chains through standardized interfaces and data models. This collaboration, which aligns with the European Commission’s 2027 DPP deadline, aims to enhance interoperability and enable more resilient, real-time data exchanges in manufacturing operations.

CESMII and NIST MEP have announced a strategic partnership to accelerate smart manufacturing adoption among small and medium-sized U.S. manufacturers (SMMs). Through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the collaboration will harness CESMII’s expertise in smart manufacturing and NIST MEP’s national network to deliver resources, technology, and education that enhance productivity and competitiveness in the manufacturing sector. Key initiatives include promoting smart manufacturing ecosystems via workshops and webinars, providing hands-on training through the CESMII Smart Manufacturing Learning System™, and integrating data-driven technology tools like the Smart Manufacturing Interoperability Platform™. This alliance underscores a shared commitment to empowering SMMs with the tools and knowledge necessary for success in a digitally connected manufacturing landscape.

The International Manufacturing-X Council (IM-X Council) has launched its new website, marking a significant milestone in the global push toward Smart Manufacturing. As a collaborative network of industry, government, and academia, the IM-X Council aims to build a decentralized data ecosystem that enhances data sovereignty, transparency, and resilience across supply chains worldwide. Today, CESMII – The Smart Manufacturing Institute – is co-hosting the IM-X Council Meeting, held alongside its own Member Meeting at Oak Ridge National Labs. Key members, including CESMII, Alliance Industrie du Futur, Confindustria, KOSMO, and other leading organizations, are aligned on a vision to “Make Data Work” for the manufacturing sector. The IM-X Council’s international reach continues to grow, with focus areas on education, interoperability, and technology standards for sectors like energy and logistics. For more information, visit www.imxc.org.