ARLINGTON, VA — The Industry Data Exchange Association, Inc. (IDEA) announced its membership to ETIM International, the international standardization organization responsible for managing the European Technical Information Model (ETIM) standard.
Representing North America (the United States and Canada), IDEA becomes the first non-European member of ETIM International. As a member, IDEA will support its customers who require ETIM – the European equivalent to the UNSPSC®-based Electrical Attribute Schema – and will create an adaptation of the ETIM model geared toward the needs of the North American market.
“With rising frequency, our customers are working across borders, and we recognize that global business requires more flexibility,” said Paul Molitor, President & CEO, IDEA. “To meet this need, IDEA will continue to own and support the Electrical Attribute Schema for our domestic customers while simultaneously supporting the European model for our global customers.”
IDEA originally led the development of the UNSPSC®-based Schema to give electrical manufacturers a guide for providing descriptive marketing content to their trading partners throughout the US and Canada. In 2012, IDEA partnered with ETIM International in an effort to align the Schema with ETIM and make it easier for manufacturers to share their marketing content with their US, Canadian, and European-based distributors at the same time.
In support of the standard, Mike Wentz, IDEA’s Executive Vice President, will join the ETIM board (General Assembly). Mary Shaw, IDEA’s Director of eBusiness Standards, will develop and manage an ETIM committee, made up of manufacturers and distributors with a global presence, to assist in the development of the North American adaptation of ETIM. The adaptation will include translation, metric/imperial measurements, regulatory requirements, etc.
“The growing partnership between ETIM International and IDEA will provide a North American voice in the ongoing development of ETIM,” said Franz Ernst, President, ETIM International. “This alignment will help make international business in the electrical industry more efficient while also allowing ETIM International to better understand the needs of the North American market.”
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