The role of comprehensive function models in the management of heterogeneous industrial networks

Abstract

The current trends in industry require more interconnectivity, interoperability and flexibility to adapt to continuous optimization of the production processes. In this landscape, industrial evolution prompts the need for a management concept capable of dealing with the heterogeneity. In the future with the incoming Industrial Internet of Things and other disruptive approaches, this demand will grow dramatically. The comprehensive function models for the management of heterogeneous industrial networks represent a domain specific abstraction. This abstraction enables the development of holistic management approaches that can deal with the heterogeneity in the management plane. In this way, they offer a solution for the future problems of the management of industrial networks regarding of the enhancement needed to perform the new trends driven by the Factories of the Future and the “Industrie 4.0”.