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DIN DKE SPEC 99200 now defines a uniform standard for the interpretation of the ReqIF™  format. This makes the exchange of relevant information even easier and smoother for companies.

Companies cooperate with numerous partners within the supply chain. However, the exchange of technical data is often difficult when different systems and standards clash. This slows down processes and reduces efficiency. If the interpretation of the data supplied is not standardized, misunderstandings can arise. This was previously the problem with the ReqIF™ (Requirements Interchange Format) file format. The format is used to exchange requirements between different tools and companies. It enables a reliable transfer of these requirements - for example of metadata, descriptions and relationships, such as between customer and supplier. Until now, however, the format has been interpreted differently by users due to a lack of standardized interpretations.

An example: a car manufacturer sends a transmission manufacturer the test conditions for the efficiency of a continuously variable transmission. The data is sent as a digital attachment to the order in the form of a ReqIF™ file. However, because the two companies use different internal systems and work with different attributes and values, they have to convert the data at great expense - a process that involves a great deal of manual processing and is prone to errors.

Interpreting data in a standardized way

The new DIN DKE SPEC 99200 standard eliminates precisely these sources of error. The standard regulates how metadata is to be interpreted and requirements implemented - including their priorities and flexibilities. It also specifies how a document can be fragmented. There are various approaches: A document can be broken down into requirements section by section or paragraph by paragraph. Alternatively, fragmentation down to sentence level is also possible in order to define individual statements as specifications or requirements. The standard improves interoperability, i.e. the exchange of data between different systems. Another milestone: the new format means that changes to norms and standards can now be tracked. This makes change management possible at requirements level. Users can compare two versions of a standard and understand which requirements are unchanged and which need to be evaluated for possible changes and updated in the systems.

Successful collaboration

DIN and the German Commission for Electrical, Electronic & Information Technologies (DKE) worked closely together to develop DIN DKE SPEC 99200 and were able to draw on the expertise of companies within the Digital Standards Initiative (IDiS). This made it possible to tailor the standard specifically to the needs of users. The new standard represents a major milestone for SMART standards. It shows the contribution SMART standards make to economic efficiency. The standard is now available for download.