Utilizing SDN Infrastructure to provide Smart Services from the Factory to the Cloud

Abstract

Smart Factory Web is an interconnection of factories all over the globe with the goal to form an easy-to-use manufacturing platform. To handle heterogeneous and changing demands of the participating users, the factory has not only to flexibilize its production assets but its network in regards to management and configuration as well. This contribution provides an insight into how this can be achieved by utilizing Software-defined networking for the concrete use case Smart Factory Web. An architecture proposal is given extending the current design of a factory which participates at Smart Factory Web. This proposal is furthermore discussed leading to a step-by-step process how a factory can transform its current traditional network infrastructure to a more flexible SDN based one.