Bridging the Gap: Deriving Specific Reference Architectures from RAMI 4.0 for Flexible Production Systems

The complexity of industrial systems is growing due to increasing interconnectivity and digitalization in the era of Industry 4.0. To address this complexity, the Reference Architecture Model Industrie 4.0 (RAMI 4.0) framework has been introduced and enhanced with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) through the RAMI Toolbox, offering structured methods for analyzing and designing interconnected systems. While RAMI 4.0 effectively supports the interplay of production systems, it falls short in addressing the unique challenges of flexible production systems, where the interactions between Product, Process, and Resource require more adaptable solutions. Additionally, as a generic framework applicable across various domains, RAMI 4.0 lacks the Specificity needed to derive tailored models for particular industrial systems. This paper argues for the development of additional reference architectures to enhance the applicability and flexibility of RAMI 4.0. It proposes two novel reference architectures designed to address the variability and complexity of flexible production systems. The effectiveness of these architectures is demonstrated through a case study involving a Palfinger use case, highlighting their potential to bridge gaps in current industrial practices.