ETIM NA Moves Ahead – New Categories, New Members

Last week ETIM North America shared a couple of press releases that had some important implications that highlight traction in development of a product classification system to support and sustain the industry as well as expanded support.

• Jon Duffie, Siemens’ Director of Channel Management, joined ETIM North America’s Electrical Sector Board.  This is important as Jon brings the “business / customer / channel” voice rather than product and “techies” sharing insight. Product expertise is essential in developing the product classification standards, however, it is also important for the business side of manufacturers and distributors to communicate the benefits of product classification standards and how these standards can be used in a business.
• Eaton and Rockwell joined ETIM. For Eaton, this is company-wide, hence Eaton Bussmann, Eaton Crouse Hinds, Eaton Wiring Devices, Eaton (Gear), et al.
• The Power Distribution Product Expert committee decided to “split” itself to provide further focus and to be able to accelerate review and refinement of the standards. They segmented the area into Product Distribution and Industrial Automation. Members can have staff on each committee, and subsequent working groups for product families (i.e. transformers, motor control centers, and other product families that are being defined over the next 30-60 days).  Segmenting the broader group will enable ETIM NA to focus on multiple product categories simultaneously.

Additional Product Categories

With ETIM NA segmenting Power Distribution and Industrial Automation and focused on accelerating product classification standards refinement / enhancement by product categories, the importance of small and medium manufacturers to join larger companies increases in importance. Membership fees are scaled based upon company revenue with a nominal maximum and cover a company (rather than a product category or family). Further, small companies have the same influence as larger companies with the philosophy of “one company, one vote.”

ETIM use cases for the global product classification standards range from improving sales reporting to better website content and taxonomy as well as more effectively sharing product features / specifications to contractors and engineers for product integration into CAD, BIM and other design and purchasing systems.

Expanding To Wiring Systems (devices and more) and Lighting / Lighting Controls

This fall ETIM North America will be expanding its Product Expert committees from Power Distribution and Industrial Automation categories (with their work groups) with another one or two categories. Wiring Systems (wiring devices, raceway, etc) and / or lighting / lighting controls.  Manufacturer and distributor product leaders, marketing leaders and “data” leaders should reach out to Mary Shaw for more information.

Distributor input is very important to add the “voice of customer” or “how the product is really searched for and talked about” and their knowledge across competing manufacturer brands which brings balance to the product classification development process.

With IDEA being a member of ETIM North America, it is expected that companies involved with IDEA will become members of ETIM North America to enhance product classification for the electrical industry. (Click here to download the ETIM North America brochure to learn more.)

ETIM North America has come far since February 2020. These recent announcements highlight the organization’s willingness to adapt and accelerate to serve the electrical industry’s needs for enhanced product classification standards.