VDA 231-300 / VDA 231-301

The VDA 231-300 standard seeks to embed material requirements in the 3D dataset in a standardized manner.

Using the CAD-neutral data format "JT" as per ISO-14306 and DIN SPEC 91383, it standardizes all needed material and surface requirements in the 3D dataset. The information is anchored as attributes in the JT at individual bodies, creating attribute-value pairs that define the material and surface properties of each body. These pairs can be uniquely assigned to a body in the 3D dataset of design systems, making the information digitally evaluable for all subsequent processes.

The contents of VDA 231-300 have been incorporated into DIN SPEC 91383 and the public library of ISO 14306, highlighting their significance and widespread acceptance. 

VDA 231-301 defines an interface format for transmitting all aggregated test results and material information of a component/sampling process along the supply chain. It is the result of a collaborative effort led by the VDA and its widespread partners, including scientific support by the Institute IKT of the University of Stuttgart. All these above-mentioned organizations brought together their expertise in materials science, engineering, and automotive manufacturing to create a standard that meets the industry's highest demands.

As a result, the VDA 231-301 is a standardized data model designed to digitize and harmonize material sampling processes concerning real test data in automotive value chains. It provides a comprehensive JSON schema with application-centric sub-schemas tailored to real-world material sampling requirements. This standard ensures consistency, transparency, and interoperability across all stages of the value chain, from material suppliers to OEMs.

The importance of VDA 231-301:

• Material properties, test results, and sampling specifications are digitized into structured JSON data. The standardized data exchange ensures uniformity in data transmission by reducing errors and discrepancies in communication concerning material sampling data.
   
• Integration across the value chain enables seamless collaboration between material suppliers, test labs, and automotive OEMs.
   
• The schema has been rigorously validated against real-world digital material sampling reports to address the specific needs of the automotive industry.
   
• Its application-centric design is customizable for specific use cases. Tailored sub-schemas capture use-case-specific requirements, ensuring flexibility and scalability.
   
• Open and Collaborative: Developed with input from leading industry stakeholders. Freely accessible and openly maintained on GitHub, the schema encourages industry-wide collaboration and continuous improvement.
   
• VDA 231-301 is future-ready, designed to meet the demands of increasingly complex automotive supply chains and support digital transformation.

VDA 231-301 Schema and Resources

The VDA 231-301 JSON Schema, alongside detailed documentation and collaterals, is freely available under an open-source license. Explore and contribute to the standard on GitHub. The official standard as PDF is available on the VDA webshop.