Visualization Approach for RAMI 4.0 Value Chain Analysis

Abstract

Industry 4.0 has revolutionized industrial automation, with models, such as Industry 4.0 Reference Architectural Model (RAMI 4.0), providing a structured framework for optimizing value chains and processes. However, the complexity and abstract nature of RAMI 4.0 have limited its practical application, especially due to the lack of clear visualization methods to understand industrial ecosystems. Effective visualization is essential to translate this framework into actionable insights, enabling stakeholders to grasp system interactions, dependencies, and value-creation processes. This article proposes a multidimensional visualization approach, illustrated through a smart heat pump example, to map information and operational technologies, their interactions, and value chains. Combining 3-D visualizations for integrated system overviews with 2-D visualizations for task-specific analysis, the approach provides a comprehensive understanding of RAMI 4.0 value chains, enabling stakeholders to address their analytical needs with clarity. It facilitates run-time value chain analysis, offering real-time insights for decision-making during operations. The approach maps industrial systems across RAMI 4.0 axes and aligns them with engineering processes and lifecycle phases, enabling the exploration of system interactions, dependencies, and stakeholder contributions. This supports the analysis of engineering and business processes, optimizes infrastructure, and facilitates smooth technological transitions. It enhances RAMI 4.0’s utility for real-time decision-making and operational efficiency, boosting competitiveness in industrial ecosystems.