Introduction

ASAM is short for Association for Standardisation of Automation and Measuring Systems. The association was founded in December 1998 as an initiative of German Car manufacturers. The association provides standards for data models, interfaces and syntax specifications for a variety of applications, such as testing, evaluation and simulation. ASAM provides an efficient and professional project management platform for the development of ASAM standards. ASAM is a registered association (e. V.) with the head office located near Munich, Germany, and a North American office (LLC) located in Royal Oak, (near Detroit) Michigan. ASAM currently has more than 120 members from the Automotive OEM, Tier One and tool supplier communities, as well as universities and personal members.

How do we determine if an ASAM standard is needed?

Typically OEMs and Tier One suppliers identify a lack of common understanding in a particular application area. From this, they will create requirements and a mission statement to launch a standardization effort. In fewer cases this demand may also be derived from suppliers if there is a platform to share experience, enabling the creation of common requirements apart from fixed customer relations based on proprietary implementations. Once requirements are available and there is a significant support from other OEMs or Tier One suppliers, a development process to define and implement a standard is invoked utilizing the ASAM communication and work platform.

How does an ASAM standard grow?

A workgroup will be established that will gather all interested ASAM member parties to work actively on the creation of the standard specification and validation under the umbrella of ASAM's guidelines, rules and project management.

How is my input considered?

Every person who is a personal or company member of ASAM can join any workgroup to actively participate within the standard definition and validation process. In some cases, members will, instead of actively participating in a workgroup, watch the specification process through the ASAM forum. This will also allow commenting on the current design process of the standard.