Expert Groups

ECLASS distinguishes two types of expert groups (EG):

• content EG, taking care of the maintenance and further development of the content of the ECLASS standard, i.e. the classification and description of product groups and services

• cross-section EG, taking care of specific aspects of the maintenance and administration issues of the standard, like e.g. the technical requirements of the data model, data base etc.

The first group are those EG that will verify and edit the submitted CR.

Tasks and responsibilities of content expert groups

1. Each content EG creates CR for their dedicated area of interest (e.g. a segment) in final-decision-maturity.

2. External CR concerning their dedicated area of interest are forwarded by the ECLASS office to the relevant content EG. The EG has to take into account these CR and consolidate them with their own work. The evaluation of external CR has to be documented in order to give feedback to the requestors.

3. CR in final-decision-maturity have to fulfill the following requirements:

         3.1 All mandatory fields are filled in English (if possible, also in German and other languages)

         3.2 They meet all formal requirements (ContentDevelopmentPlatform, Import Template)

         3.3 They meet the guidelines on spelling, syntax, field formats, units, definitions etc.

         3.4 The CR is in conformity to the data model

         3.5 A CR by an ECLASS EG has to be delivered with a decision memorandum by the EG

         3.6 In case a CR was submitted for a MinorRelease its content has to be checked if it contains only compatible changes

4. The following aspects have to be considered when editing CR:

• The class hierachy must represent the market view (of e.g. a procurement market)

• The existing structure of the content must be considered and breaks largely be avoided

• Common norms, standards and guidelines (preferably international) must be considered if existing

• Each content EG is responsible for the conformity to the guidelines described in this document and for the professional quality of their area of interest in ECLASS.

• Each content EG can create and submit CR that concern the area of interest of other content EG. These CR are in the responsibility of the responsible EG. The responsible EG has to decide on the changes first, before forwarding the CR for the final decision to the QC.

5. If the areas of interest of two content EG are related, the EG have to consolidate their results with each other and inform the ECLASS office about their results

Tasks and responsibilities of cross-section expert groups

Currently only one cross-section EG exists in the ECLASS association, the Center for Research and Development (CRD). This is the central ECLASS body for the development of the ECLASS data structure and technical requirements to maintain the ECLASS standard, i.e. the data model, data base, rules and regulations etc. The CRD is not responsible for the content of the standard itself, but for the structure of the content (not the class structure, which is better described as the class hierarchy).

The ECLASS association plans to found cross-section EG for the maintenance of cross-segment content like aspects, blocks and properties.

Expert Groups that are currently active: