Model-Based Characteristics v1.0 – Persistent Identification and Related Digital Practices (new standard)
The Model-Based Characteristics Standard (MBC) was developed in 2024 by domain experts from the manufacturing quality community representing a wide variety of industries and quality measurement needs under the direction of the Digital Metrology Standards Consortium (DMSC).
The DMSC™ is an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Accredited Standards Developer (ASD), as well as an A-Liaison to the International Standards Organization (ISO).
The new MBC standard defines nomenclature, definitions, symbols, data structures, and practices for identifying, communicating, and exchanging model-based characteristics with various optional augmentations through both a logical data model and supporting documentation. Specifically, this standard provides a common approach for tagging and uniquely identifying product characteristics that are of interest for the product realization process.
Product characteristic tagging is primarily used for identifying a list of characteristics required to verify and accept product. Additionally, it can enable explicit referencing for product definition, change control, reporting on product non-conformance, and obfuscating confidential or classified product definition information. Moreover, this standard provides optional augmentations for communicating criticality classifications, product requirement associations, and verification plan requirements. Finally, this standard shall be applicable for both human-readable communication and machine-readable applications that can enable the digital thread.
Development Process
In June 2020, the DMSC began the development of this new metrology standard to provide a common approach for tagging and uniquely identifying product characteristics that are of interest for the product realization process in a Model-Based environment. The goal was to create an ANSI/ISO standard that would be applicable for both human-readable communication and machine-readable applications that can enable the digital thread.
After four years of effort by way of the DMSC Working Group process, a completed MBC standard proposal moved through the DMSC Standards Committee for fine-tuning and approval as part of the development process. At an in-person meeting, the Standards Committee vote was overwhelmingly affirmative, and the MBC proposal moved to the next step in the DMSC approval process.
Standard Status
The new DMSC standard proposal appeared in the 25 August 2023 edition (page 25) of the ANSI Standards Action, and in accordance with ANSI BSR-08 procedures, was made available for Public Review for a period of 45 days. Comment deadline expired 9 October, 2023. Public comments were forwarded to DMSC for a formal response.
In 2024, the DMSC released the MBC standard as an internal standard to allow fellow users to immediately utilize the standard as we continue through the formal development and approval process.
The last step in the process was a final review by an ANSI standards committee. On 31 May, 2026, ANSI confirmed approval of the MBC 1.0 standard as a new American National Standard (ANS).
Free download available
Download your free copy of the Model-Based Characteristic Standard v1.0 (188 pages).
Direct any questions regarding the development process or future features of the MBC Standard to DMSC Executive Director, Mark Thomas: mark.thomas@qifstandards.org