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Industry 4.0 platform
Since its foundation in 2013, the Industry 4.0 platform has developed into a successful model with great international appeal. The name refers to a fundamental developmental leap in industrial production, the likes of which have only been seen in the past with similarly striking effects.
Society & Politics
Sustainability, transparency, fair trade, data sovereignty, resilience - these are the fundamental values that are being promoted by politicians in the interests of society.
Many legislative initiatives in recent years, such as the EU Data Act, Green Deal, Supply Chain Act, etc., can be derived from this.
What may seem like a bureaucratic hurdle to some companies at first glance can be turned into tangible competitive advantages through determined digitalisation.
Digitalisation for data-driven business models.
Industry 4.0 technologies enable access to data spaces and thus to marketplaces where digital data services are brokered. These are already key components of the value chain today and their share compared to revenue from the sale of physical goods will increase significantly in the future.
Originating from an initiative of German industry associations and supported by federal ministries, the projects and standards developed by the Industry 4.0 platform have now gained European and global support.
In a number of larger funding projects, industrial companies, associations, consortia and research institutions have developed standards and open source software components over the course of time.
Gaia X is a European initiative to create a common data infrastructure to strengthen digital sovereignty and promote open standards for data exchange.
Catena-X is a collaborative, open data ecosystem for the future of the automotive industry that optimises data exchange through its own open source projects.
With Manufacturing-X, leading industrial companies, interest groups and politicians have created the basis for a cross-sector, decentralised data economy for German and European industry.
The Asset Administration Shell is a standardised language for the Internet of Things. It allows products from a wide range of manufacturers to communicate with each other and enables seamless integration across the entire product life cycle.
The AAS specification defines the syntax (data models, APIs) and semantics (submodels) for a wide range of use cases.
While the AAS defines the common language, a data space provides the framework for the legally compliant processing of transactions.
The specification of the International Data Spaces Association (IDSA) ensures interoperability within a data space and between data spaces in different sectors.
Currently in focus: AAS.TwinEngine
We have extensive experience with Industry 4.0 technologies and, as a member of the IDTA, are involved in the design of future enhancements.
In addition, our AAS.TwinEngine offers a solution that not only allows you to fulfil the specifications, but also to master the much more demanding challenge of integrating heterogeneous data sources.
Integration across all phases of the product lifecycle requires breaking down old silos such as ERP, PLM, CRM and MES. Although these systems are not becoming obsolete, the data is no longer locked up in the respective systems.
Rolf Engesser
Rolf Engesser has many years of experience in software and consulting companies and has already designed larger solutions as an architect in the pioneering days of the Internet. After several years in industry, he joined M&M Software in 2021, where he now heads the Industry 4.0 & Digital Twin Competence Centre. Through his career, he combines both in-depth expertise in software development and an understanding of the processes in an industrial company.
“Manufacturing-X puts digitalisation in industry on a common track for the first time. Many companies now have the opportunity to get on board and pick up speed. They should now be careful not to miss the boat and run the risk of losing the access to some markets they thought they had.”
