Engineering ICPS for Small and Medium Enterprises: A Novel DIN SPEC 91345 Compliant Digitalization Approach

An adequate and sound baseline for engineering Industrial Cyber-Physical Systems is given by the Industry 4.0 digitalization principles, in combination with the application of the Asset Administration Shell (AAS) Technology. On the one side, all essential aspects related to the digitalization of any industrial eco-system are comprehensively formalized by the DIN Specification 91345 RAMI4.0 (Reference Architecture Model for Industry 4.0), which combined with the use and application of the Asset Administration Shell Technology, provide a proper background for digitalizing any industrial eco-system. On the other side, by analyzing latest reported results and using lessons learned in practical experiences done by actively participating in digitalizing real industrial use cases, it has been possible for the authors to identify a lack on a technologically feasible and conceptually understandable digitalization approach for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that do not have the required accessibility to adequate methodologies, technologies and tools. In this context, this manuscript summarizes a conceptually accessible approach to support the engineering of Industrial Cyber-Physical Systems with focus on the digitalization process of SMEs. This conceptual accessibility is provided by a novel structured procedure precisely grounded on the RAMI 4.0, that covers the digitalization process from the early stages of the adequate requirements compilation, through the specifications and developments along the Life-Cycle of Assets and processes, and thus establishing a solid foundation to achieve an economically and technically plausible implementation accepted by all involved stakeholders of the value chain.