When it comes to automating the development, production and assembly of wiring harnesses in automotive engineering, it is becoming increasingly important that automation-friendly design decisions are made as early as the development phase. But when is the design of a wiring harness actually automation-friendly? And how can it be ensured that the answer to this question is not redeveloped each time?

Automation of wire harness production in accordance with DIN 72036

The solution is DIN 72036, which standardises the "automation of wire harness production" in 60 design guidelines from different areas, taking into account important aspects of automation-friendliness. The design guideline is often limited to just a single sentence, for example: "A defined minimum distance must be maintained between two neighbouring connection points." However, to put it bluntly, there is a lot attached to such a rule: the standard not only explains the background and thus the added value for automation, it also contains a large number of illustrations that explain what is and is not desirable. It also defines corresponding target values, in this example these would be length specifications in millimetres.

Automatic "rule checker"

The standard also supports target values with references to digital data formats, such as the KBL (wire harness list) and the VEC (Vehicle Electric Container), which was further developed from the KBL. These are widely used in the industry. DIN 72036 thus lays the foundation for "rule checkers" in the development tools to automatically generate information during the development process as to whether a design guideline is being adhered to or not.

DIN 72036 as a driver of innovation

The publication of DIN 72036 should therefore trigger a series of innovation impulses: From industry-specific automation solutions for machines and systems to providers of corresponding software solutions and the prospect of being able to economically manufacture the wiring harness with a high degree of automation even in a high-wage country like Germany. The authors expect DIN 72036 to provide a significant impetus for the advancing automation of wire harness development and production, from which all stages of the value chain will benefit.

Next version of DIN 72036 already in the works

Work is already underway behind the scenes on the next version. This is also being developed by working group 51 as part of the "E/E components and general system requirements" working committee in the DIN Automotive Standards Committee (NAAutomobil). Working Group 51 is supported in terms of content by the Standardisation Initiative Wiring Harness (SILS). The SILS is a co-operation within the framework of ARENA2036, in which companies from all stages of the wiring harness value chain are involved, from automotive manufacturers and assemblers to component, machine and software manufacturers. The SILS contributes its preliminary work to AK51. These proposals were introduced to the DIN working group on this topic, which further refined them and formulated them in DIN 72036. This saves work and creates speed. The AK51 is confident that the next version of DIN 72036 can therefore be published as early as 2025.

About ARENA2026

ARENA2036 stands for "Active Research Environment for the Next generation of Automobiles" and is one of nine research campuses of the "Research Campus - Public-Private Partnership for Innovation" funding initiative in Germany. ARENA2036 is supported by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and is run as a registered association with members from science and industry. ARENA2036 partners are active in various disciplines - from the automotive industry to aerospace technology, textile and materials research through to ergonomics.

Video