Overview
ISO 29845:2011 - Technical product documentation - Document types defines the standardized types of documents and presentation forms used to specify products, equipment and plants across all engineering fields, from conceptual design to finished product. Its primary purpose is to support structured product data management (PDM/PLM), improve document searching and retrieval, and enable clear document interchange between parties. ISO 29845:2011 also helps fulfil the document-type field requirements in ISO 7200:2004 (title blocks and document headers).
Key topics and requirements
- Document type definitions: formal definitions for what constitutes a document and a documentation collection, and precise definitions for many specific document types (e.g., part drawing, assembly drawing, installation drawing, fabrication drawing, supplier drawing, part model, assembly model, installation model, interference model, annotated design model).
- Forms of presentation: classification of the main presentation formats used in engineering documentation - drawing, model, diagram, chart, graph, list, and textual - with guidance on typical applications.
- Enumerated document lists: exhaustive list of technical documents commonly used in engineering, such as parts list, bill of material (BOM), document list, signal list, coordinate data list, assembly instruction, test plan, test report, quality plan, calculation sheet, process specification, and more.
- Application mapping: mapping of presentation formats to technical areas (codes for overall technology, construction, mechanical and process plant engineering) to aid consistent classification.
- Purpose-driven requirements: document typing to facilitate data modelling in PDM systems, efficient document retrieval/search, improved communication in document interchange, and alignment with ISO 7200 document header requirements.
Applications and practical value
ISO 29845:2011 is practical for:
- Implementing or configuring PDM/PLM and document management systems to ensure consistent document classification and metadata.
- Standardizing engineering deliverables (CAD drawings, 3D models, diagrams, BOMs) across multi-disciplinary teams and supply chains.
- Improving document interchange between OEMs, suppliers, contractors and regulatory bodies by using agreed document-type names and formats.
- Enhancing searchability, archival, and automated workflows by aligning document types with title-block fields and metadata standards.
Who should use it
- Design and mechanical engineers, CAD and BIM managers
- Technical authors and documentation specialists
- PDM/PLM implementers and configuration managers
- Procurement, quality and regulatory teams, and suppliers involved in engineering document exchange
Related standards
Keywords: ISO 29845:2011, technical product documentation, document types, PDM, PLM, drawing, model, diagram, BOM, parts list, document interchange.
