Manufacturing Connectivity Redefined: January 2026 Standard Updates

The global manufacturing sector is undergoing a digital transformation, placing interoperability, security, and robust information modeling at the forefront of industrial automation. The January 2026 publication introduces a significant update to the OPC Unified Architecture (OPC UA) suite—IEC 62541-5:2026—now available through iTeh Standards. Covering two distinct but related editions, these updates deliver cutting-edge tools and methodologies for manufacturers to design, operate, and future-proof their systems. For engineers, quality managers, compliance officers, and procurement specialists, these revised standards promise both opportunities and imperatives for adaption in rapidly changing environments.

Overview

Manufacturing engineering is experiencing rapid digitization, with smart factories, Industry 4.0, and Internet of Things (IoT) initiatives heavily relying on seamless data exchange and automation. In this landscape, international standards like OPC UA provide an essential backbone for secure communication and structured contextualization of operational data across diverse systems, devices, and platforms.

Why does this matter? As manufacturing processes become more distributed and cyber-physical, reliable information modeling and interoperability are vital for optimizing efficiency, maintaining compliance, and paving the way for new digital business models. These new and revised OPC UA standards address emerging requirements, offering more advanced modeling, diagnostics, and configuration options to keep pace with technological and regulatory demands.

In this article, you'll learn:

• The scope and practical implications of the new OPC UA information model standards
• Key technical enhancements and compliance insights
• Best practices for implementation and ongoing conformity

Detailed Standards Coverage

IEC 62541-5:2026 – OPC Unified Architecture, Part 5: Information Model

Full Title: OPC Unified architecture – Part 5: Information Model

Publication Date: 2026-01-06

The fourth edition of IEC 62541-5 delivers a major technical revision of the foundational information model underpinning OPC UA, the gold standard for interoperable data exchange in manufacturing and industrial automation. This update supersedes the 2020 edition and introduces a wide array of architectural, operational, and extensibility upgrades.

Scope and Coverage:

• Defines the OPC UA Information Model—the formal structure describing all data, objects, event types, variable types, and reference models within an OPC UA server’s address space.
• Enables standardized, structured data exchange for all aspects of industrial automation, supporting secure, reliable, and scalable operations across diverse hardware and software providers.

Key Requirements and Specifications:

• Adopts a richer set of object and variable type definitions, supporting granular contextualization of equipment, processes, diagnostics, and events.
• Improves diagnostic and event management through expanded event types, including security, session, and client event tracking.
• Enhances redundancy and failover mechanisms for mission-critical applications.
• Introduces new modeling rules for extending and customizing OPC UA deployments.
• Revised data typing, namespace management, and configuration properties to facilitate future-proof integration.

Who Needs to Comply:

• Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) designing OPC UA-enabled products
• System integrators of industrial automation networks
• Operations technology (OT) and IT teams responsible for plant digitalization
• Compliance and quality assurance teams charged with digital systems governance

Practical Implications:

• Smoother integration across vendor systems
• Reduced maintenance through standardized diagnostics
• Enhanced cybersecurity posture via richer event types
• Agility and interoperability to support next-gen automation initiatives

Notable Changes from 2020 Edition:

• Annex B and Annex C removed to form standalone standards IEC 62451-16 and IEC 62451-20
• Added new currency information model for transaction management
• Introduced Interfaces and AddIns to foster modular extensibility
• Integrated Method Metadata, ordered objects, and advanced namespace properties
• Multiple new data types including PortableQualifiedName, PortableNodeId, UriString, SemanticVersionString, BitFieldType, and BitFieldDefinitionType
• Capabilities now include session, subscription, and monitored item limits
• Expanded event system: AuditClientEventType, AuditClientUpdateMethodResultEventType
• Enhanced redundancy: NoTransparentBackupRedundancyType, supporting Primary/Standby

Key highlights:

• Richer and more flexible information modeling for industrial assets and events
• Advanced session, subscription, and monitoring management for scalable deployments
• Improved tooling for diagnostics, compliance audit, and system configuration

Access the full standard:View IEC 62541-5:2026 on iTeh Standards

Note: Both entries reference the same edition of IEC 62541-5:2026. This highlights its applicability across multiple facets of manufacturing engineering where redundancy, auditability, and information modeling matter.

IEC 62541-5:2026 – OPC Unified Architecture, Part 5: Information Model (Second Edition Entry)

Full Title: OPC Unified architecture – Part 5: Information Model

To emphasize the importance and coverage, this standard is applicable not only for traditional automation but also for emerging use cases such as digital twins, MES/SCADA integration, AI-driven analytics, and advanced quality management systems. Every manufacturing organization aiming for digital transformation should prioritize understanding and adopting this standard.

• Robust Data Modeling – Deepens capabilities in representing assets, production lines, quality metrics, and historical data structures.
• Vendor Interoperability – Ensures that multi-vendor shop floors can freely exchange and contextualize information without proprietary barriers.
• Audit and Cybersecurity – New event types and metadata features enable fine-grained security auditing, critical for regulatory compliance and cyber resilience.

Key highlights:

• Optimized information model for Industry 4.0 and beyond
• Modular extensibility for custom, future-facing applications
• Fine-grained namespace and event versioning for traceability and lifecycle management

Access the full standard:View IEC 62541-5:2026 on iTeh Standards

Industry Impact & Compliance

Adopting the new IEC 62541-5:2026 standard will reshape how manufacturers approach their digital infrastructure. The industry can expect:

Tangible Business and Operational Benefits:

• Increased system interoperability enables streamlined supplier integration and scalable upgrades
• Advanced diagnostics reduce downtime and speed up troubleshooting
• Greater flexibility supports evolving business requirements and future expansion

Compliance Considerations:

• Organizations must update internal systems and procurement requirements to align with the revised information modeling framework
• Transition periods will depend on sector-specific regulatory bodies and contractual requirements
• Early adopters will gain competitive advantages in efficiency and innovation readiness
• Certification bodies may revise OPC UA compliance checks—staying ahead ensures a smooth audit trail

Risks of Non-Compliance:

• Missed business opportunities due to incompatibility
• Strategic risks from legacy system lock-in
• Potential audit failures or increased vulnerability to cyber threats

Technical Insights

Common Technical Requirements:

• Correct implementation of new and revised object types, event types, and data types as specified in the standard
• Validation and management of expanded namespace properties and semantic versioning
• Compliance with new monitoring and subscription limitations
• Integration of newly introduced reference types (e.g., AssociatedWith) for advanced linking

Best Practices for Implementation:

1. Gap Assessment: Map current system architectures to the new OPC UA model, identifying required changes
2. Vendor Collaboration: Work with automation vendors to verify compatibility with the latest OPC UA stack
3. Training: Upskill engineers and IT/OT staff on new features and modeling rules
4. Testing: Deploy updated systems in simulated or pilot environments; leverage OPC UA compliance test tools
5. Documentation: Update SOPs, configuration guides, and system registries according to the new standard

Testing and Certification:

• Engage with accredited OPC Foundation testing laboratories and certification programs
• Validate mapping, event handling, and object types as per IEC 62541-5
• Monitor vendor certification status for critical hardware and platforms

Conclusion & Next Steps

The January 2026 update to IEC 62541-5:2026 signals a landmark evolution in manufacturing engineering standards, enabling organizations to harness more intelligent, secure, and interoperable industrial estates. For leaders in automation, digital transformation, and cyber-physical production, understanding and acting on these revisions is non-negotiable.

Key takeaways:

• OPC UA's information model is more powerful and extensible than ever—build for longevity, compliance, and digital opportunity
• Rapidly shifting regulatory and technological landscapes require proactive adaptation
• Early adopters secure scalability, cybersecurity, and true smart factory capabilities

Recommendations:

• Download and study the full standard from iTeh Standards
• Conduct a readiness review of your current systems & supplier stack
• Update organizational policies and procurement frameworks
• Stay connected with standardization bodies and subscribe to updates from iTeh Standards for future developments

Embrace this new era of connectivity, reliability, and automation by mastering the tools and concepts found in IEC 62541-5:2026—the backbone for manufacturing systems of tomorrow.