Smart Factory Modelling for SME: Modelling the Textile Factory of the Future

Abstract

The Industrial Internet of Things and Industry 4.0 both promote Smart Factory as the manufacturing of the future. The complexity of production environments consisting of smart entities is far more complex than traditional production scenarios. In particular SMEs have problems with the transition towards Smart Factory. Modelling could support this process. Available modelling frameworks are either too abstract for SMEs and their production networks or far too detailed to be suitable for discussing Smart Factory approaches within the companies and their production networks. A suitable modelling framework has been developed in a German research project on modelling the textile factory of the future, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. The smart entity is the core element of the framework, which is detailed by five sub-models. This entity now can be used to describe machines, services as well as complete production networks with the same building blocks. Textile SMEs can engineer their structures towards Smart Factory with a modelling attuned to their needs. The capabilities of the modelling framework are demonstrated by their application to a carbon fibre nonwoven fabric production process.