Open Industry 4.0 Alliance: a digital ecosystem for industry

By collaborating with other companies and experts in the Open Industry 4.0 Alliance, ifm is making an important contribution to the promotion and development of digitalisation in industry. The aim of the Open Industry 4.0 Alliance is to create a standardised, open Industry 4.0 ecosystem in which data, processes and systems can interact in a way that is secure and transparent. The result should be maximum interoperability and increased process efficiency. To do this, the alliance is relying on existing standards, such as the IO-Link communication system.

The vision of the Open Industry 4.0 Alliance – digital transformation through standardisation

The Open Industry 4.0 Alliance provides an open, interoperable solution for industrial automation that consists of four key elements: device connectivity, edge, operator cloud, and cloud platform. These elements work together to create an efficient connection between machines, sensors and the customer’s company.

The edge is the central hub for local functions, whereas the operator cloud forms the central point for functions and applications that are central to the company. Cloud platform enables the exchange of data and information across corporate boundaries and ensures that all parts of the solution are open and interoperable. Device connectivity guarantees the connection between sensors and machines.

OPC UA & MQTT are very important for the Open Industry 4.0 Alliance as they are manufacturer-independent communication standards that enable the seamless integration of machines and systems from different manufacturers and thus lay the foundation for successful implementation of Industry 4.0. The Alliance’s vision is that 80 percent of the systems and machines in a smart factory will be connected and speak a common language, enabling more efficient management and monitoring of systems.