The digitization is changing industrial production in Germany in a sustainable manner. Production facilities combined with information and communication technology are forming intelligent value-added networks. With the reference architecture model Industrie 4.0, the Plattform Industrie 4.0 presents a coordinate system that sorts all important aspects of Industrie 4.0 in three dimensions. The RAMI system provides orientation, but also shows further need for action on the way to a digitalized production. An essential requirement is a uniform interaction model. If machines, systems, sensors and products interact with one another, they must speak the same language. In the Working Group “Reference Architectures, Standards and Standardization” of the Plattform Industrie 4.0, experts from various fields are working on these communication standards and presented new results in November 2016.
