The State Administration for Market Regulation has issued three national standards covering smart factories for steel scrap, digital twin systems for steel smart factories, and coordinated management across multiple steel production sites, according to its website.

The standards aim to address challenges associated with long production flows and multiple processing stages, including inconsistent design practices and difficulties in exchanging data. Together, they are intended to support a framework of technical requirements for advanced manufacturing in the steel industry.

Where the standards focus

The scrap-factory standard addresses design requirements, while the digital twin standard sets technical requirements for systems used in steel smart factories. The third standard covers systems for coordinating management across multiple production sites.

These areas address different points in the manufacturing process: factory design, digital representation of operations, and coordination between sites. A clearer set of requirements could help organizations align system design and data exchange, although the practical effect will depend on the detailed provisions and how they are applied.

For steel producers and technology providers, the standards' specific requirements and their application across facilities will be important points to follow.