Rolling the Dice – Rethinking the RAMI 4.0 Perspectives

Abstract

As developing current or future industrial systems becomes increasingly complex, new methods for understandably structuring those systems need to arise. The Reference Architectural Model Industrie 4.0 (RAMI 4.0) provides a framework for describing intermingled industrial applications in the context of Cyber-Physical Production Systems (CPPSs). However, although RAMI 4.0 has been standardized for almost a decade, it still lacks actual industrial applications. Recent use cases have shown that the three-dimensional layout might be oversimplified for describing system architectures. Specifically, problems with the so-called live-cycle axis, which has shown significant shortcomings in capturing the dynamics of industrial processes, need to be tackled. This paper provides an analysis of RAMI 4.0 and an assessment of shortcomings that hinder its applicability. It presents alternative approaches that address these limitations by proposing modifications or replacements of parts of RAMI 4.0. Based on the paper's insights, we provide the research agenda for engineering future manufacturing systems, considering it a base for follow-up projects to ensure industrial readiness.