Barriers, Enablers, and Strategies to Data Interoperability of Capital Assets in the Process Industry
Interoperability, as defined by ISO, refers to the ability of systems or applications to exchange information and to mutually use the information that has been exchanged. As technological innovation introduces diverse information systems, the necessity for seamless data exchange has become increasingly critical, particularly with the rise of digital twin ecosystems. However, persistent interoperability challenges continue to result in significant problems that hinder effective communication and collaboration throughout the project lifecycle. To investigate why data interoperability remains a persistent challenge despite various industry efforts, a workshop was held with over 40 experts to identify the practical barriers and enablers from an engineering management perspective. Qualitative analysis identified 12 barriers and 15 enablers, revealing that core impediments are not merely technological but inherently socio-technical, involving complex organizational and process-related factors. Key barriers include proprietary system integration and the difficulty of quantifying ROI, while the adoption of standards for multi-stakeholder collaboration and AI-driven automation serve as corresponding enablers. Based on these findings, six actionable strategies are proposed: (1) Overcome Integration Challenges and Vendor Lock-In, (2) Improve Adoption and Alignment of Standards, (3) Demonstrate and Quantify the Benefits of Interoperability, (4) Build Robust Data Governance and Ownership Frameworks, (5) Address Resistance to Process Change, and (6) Enhance Collaboration and Communication Structures. This study provides strategies addressing distinctive stakeholder priorities, including critical implications for SMEs and startups, thereby offering a roadmap to accelerate the realization of integrated digital twin ecosystems.
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