Manufacturing Engineering Standards Summary – July 2025 (Part 2 of 2)

Looking back at July 2025, the Manufacturing Engineering sector saw a focused wave of standardization spanning workforce qualifications, automation programming, and advanced surface measurement. In this second part of our monthly summary, we analyze three pivotal standards released during this period—each one reflective of where the industry is heading in terms of skill requirements, digital automation, and quality control. For professionals aiming to remain abreast of essential standards developments, this comprehensive overview offers strategic insight to guide compliance, procurement, and informed engineering decisions.

Monthly Overview: July 2025

The month of July 2025 marked a significant period for Manufacturing Engineering, with the publication of three highly impactful standards. This tranche of standards reflected a pronounced emphasis on quality assurance for both human capital and manufacturing outcomes, an integrated approach to automation through interoperability of programming languages, and continual advances in coating inspection and measurement. Compared to typical monthly publication patterns in manufacturing, July’s standards output was notable for its breadth of application—from plant-floor personnel and equipment qualification to the digital domain of software and automated control systems, and on to the precision realm of material surface properties.

These publications underscore several industry trends: the increased interrelationship between workforce competency and automation, elevated demands for software standardization in programmable logic controllers (PLCs), and a persistent focus on quality control as manufacturing continues to globalize and automate. The breadth of topics covered points towards a sector in transition—balancing legacy manufacturing robustness with Industry 4.0 digitalization.

Standards Published This Month

EN ISO 14732:2025 – Welding Personnel Qualification Testing for Mechanized and Automatic Welding

Welding personnel – Qualification testing of welding operators and weld setters for mechanized and automatic welding of metallic materials (ISO 14732:2025)

This standard specifies the procedures and requirements for qualifying welding operators and weld setters engaged with mechanized and automatic welding processes on metallic materials. It is focused on personnel who are responsible for controlling or adjusting welding parameters and those involved in setting up welding equipment, excluding those not directly responsible for parameter control/setup.

Notably, EN ISO 14732:2025 provides a harmonized approach that aligns with evolving European directives (such as Pressure Equipment and Simple Pressure Vessels), ensuring that organizations can prove compliance with essential regulatory requirements. The standard is not intended for friction stir welding (which is covered elsewhere), but addresses a comprehensive range of fusion and resistance welding processes applicable across multiple industries—including pressure vessel manufacturing, automotive, rail, and aerospace.

Key requirements include:

• Defining the obligations for initial qualification, verification, and revalidation cycles
• Outlining the functional knowledge and skills required for both welding operators and weld setters
• Specifying documentation, including the format of qualification test certificates
• Listing further normative references (e.g., ISO 9606, ISO 3834) to strengthen compliance with quality management in welding
• Establishing mandatory tests on functional knowledge of the welding unit

For organizations, implementation of this standard is especially significant for maintaining product integrity, safety, and regulatory compliance, particularly under EU legislation. As automation increases in welding operations, this standard ensures that human oversight and technical skill keep pace with mechanization.

Key highlights:

• Updated qualification framework for both operators and setters in mechanized/automatic welding
• Integrated presumption of conformity with EU directives (Pressure Equipment & Simple Pressure Vessels)
• Mandatory periodic revalidation and documentation requirements

Access the full standard:View EN ISO 14732:2025 on iTeh Standards

EN IEC 61131-3:2025 – Programming Languages for Programmable Controllers

Programmable controllers – Part 3: Programming languages

EN IEC 61131-3:2025 is a landmark standard for the industrial automation and process control landscape. It defines the unified suite of programming languages for programmable controllers (PCs)—including both textual (Structured Text, ST) and graphical (Ladder Diagram, LD; Function Block Diagram, FBD) forms, and introduces the Sequential Function Chart (SFC) for program organization.

This fourth edition arrives with substantial updates since the 2013 version, most notably:

• The inclusion and support of UTF-8 strings and related functions, which expands global language support and integration
• A new informative annex cataloguing all features added, removed, or deprecated since the last edition
• Further support for interoperability, modularization, object-oriented programming (OOP), and compliance features for advanced automated systems

The standard details the syntax and semantics essential for implementing, exchanging, and verifying PLC programs across various platforms and vendors. Industries utilizing advanced automation—including manufacturing, food processing, and packaging—recognize EN IEC 61131-3 as foundational for specifying, designing, and validating controls logic that is robust, interoperable, and future-proof.

Practical implications are major: compliance leads to smoother system integration, improved interoperability between different control system components, and more standardized workforce skills for programming and maintaining automated production lines. The new edition’s language enhancements also facilitate compliance with modern requirements for cybersecurity, system modularity, and internationalization.

Key highlights:

• Major language suite update with UTF-8 support for global applications
• Comprehensive compliance tables and implementer’s checklists for feature support
• Expanded and harmonized graphical/textual programming elements for PLCs

Access the full standard:View EN IEC 61131-3:2025 on iTeh Standards

EN ISO 2361:2025 – Magnetic Method for Nickel Coating Thickness Measurement

Electrodeposited nickel coatings on magnetic and non-magnetic substrates – Measurement of coating thickness – Magnetic method (ISO 2361:2025)

EN ISO 2361:2025 delivers a technically updated, comprehensive framework for non-destructive measurement of electrodeposited nickel (“e-nickel”) coating thickness on both magnetic and non-magnetic substrates. The standard details not just the core measurement principles, but also nuances related to measurement accuracy, limitations, and calibration of equipment.

It introduces a clear distinction between two coating types:

• Type A: Nickel coatings on magnetic substrates (e.g., steel)
• Type B: Nickel coatings on non-magnetic substrates (e.g., copper, brass)

The standard covers:

• Appropriate selection and calibration of instruments—defining specific measuring ranges (up to 50 μm for magnetic attraction, up to 1 mm+ for reluctance methods)
• Critical factors affecting accuracy such as base material properties, coating thickness, substrate magnetism, measurement edge effects, and instrument/probe orientation
• Step-by-step procedure for carrying out tests: calibration, number of readings, handling of curved or cleaned surfaces, and requirements for reporting
• Specifications for situations involving special conditions, such as measuring on hot surfaces or underwater

The method remains essential for manufacturers of coated components in automotive, electronics, appliance, and corrosion protection sectors—where consistent quality and adherence to specification (often contractually or regulatorily required) depend on reliable, standardized measurement.

Key highlights:

• Clear separation and guidance for Type A and Type B nickel coatings
• Expanded measuring ranges and updated procedures for accuracy
• Comprehensive advice for calibration, edge/corner effects, and reporting

Access the full standard:View EN ISO 2361:2025 on iTeh Standards

Common Themes and Industry Trends

A retrospective look at July 2025’s standards reveals several interlinked themes:

• Quality Assurance across Process and Personnel: All three standards emphasize the dual importance of both technical process control (e.g., coating thickness, PLC programming) and skilled, qualified personnel (e.g., welding operators).
• Digital Transformation and Standardization: EN IEC 61131-3:2025 points to growing harmonization in industrial automation, reflecting an industry pivot toward software-driven, modularized, and globally interoperable systems.
• Globalization and Regulatory Alignment: EN ISO 14732:2025 demonstrates harmonization with key EU directives, reinforcing both compliance and cross-border recognition of skills and processes.
• Data Integrity and Test Accuracy: Updated requirements in EN ISO 2361:2025 underscore the need for reliable, repeatable measurements in an era of strict quality control and shrinking engineering tolerances.

Industry sectors that received particular focus this month include automated manufacturing, surface engineering, and welding-intensive production settings—each under mounting pressure to demonstrate repeatable quality, compliance, and digital readiness.

Compliance and Implementation Considerations

For organizations working within Manufacturing Engineering, timely adoption of these July 2025 standards is strategically and operationally significant:

• For Quality Managers and Compliance Officers:

  • Revisit and update internal procedures for welding operator and setter qualification to conform with EN ISO 14732:2025, especially for regulated industries such as pressure equipment
  • Review and align PLC software development practices to the new language features and requirements of EN IEC 61131-3:2025
  • Ensure all surface thickness measurements for coated substrates use practices and equipment calibrated per EN ISO 2361:2025

• For Procurement and Engineering Teams:

  • Specify and source equipment or supplier services that demonstrate adherence to the latest testing/measuring and programming standards
  • Validate suppliers’ workforce certification processes and documentation

• For Implementation Timelines:

  • Anticipate a transition period as national standards are updated and older editions withdrawn (typically within 6–18 months)
  • Start training and upskilling affected personnel in parallel with document review

Resources for getting started: Utilize official iTeh Standards links for access to authoritative documents, make use of relevant annexes and compliance tables, and coordinate with technical committees or industry groups for interpretation or sector-specific guidance.

Conclusion: Key Takeaways from July 2025

July 2025 was a month rich with impactful developments for Manufacturing Engineering standards, cementing best practices for both workforce qualification and technical process control. Organizations should prioritize aligning to EN ISO 14732:2025 for welding competence, retooling controls engineering to embrace EN IEC 61131-3:2025’s latest programming language enhancements, and steadfastly ensuring measurement reliability by implementing EN ISO 2361:2025 for nickel coatings.

Remaining current with these advancements is not only essential for regulatory compliance and product quality, but also optimizes operations and positions businesses for digital transformation and global market access. We encourage all manufacturing professionals—whether in compliance, engineering, procurement, or operational roles—to explore the detailed provisions of each standard directly via iTeh Standards for robust implementation and ongoing excellence.