Last year, the German Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers’ Association (ZVEI), published a guideline for general and manufacturer-independent criteria for Industrie 4.0 products.
The reference architecture model Industrie 4.0 (RAMI 4.0) was developed as part of the standardization work and represents the entire solution space for Industrie 4.0. In RAMI 4.0, technical standards are located along the three axes “Architecture Layer�?, “Lifecycle & Value Stream�?, and “Functional Hierarchy�?. Corresponding work is currently taking place in the various Industrie 4.0 committees.
A second reference model called “Industrie 4.0 component�? has also been published. This model describes how an Industrie 4.0 product is embedded in an Industrie 4.0 network. An administration shell with corresponding Industrie 4.0 communication is necessary. This means that the product is always an Industrie 4.0 component, consisting of an “asset�? and an “administration shell�?. Both reference models impose requirements and are the starting point for the derivation of the criteria for Industrie 4.0 products. Criteria were selected which would lead to serious changes or which are a prerequisite for Industrie 4.0.
Sellers in the market use these criteria to decide which products can be labeled as Industrie 4.0-capable. At the same time, companies can use these criteria as a guide for product development.
Principles for the definition of criteria for Industrie 4.0 products
Self-examination: Each company or organization shall check and control, based on the criteria for 4.0 products, whether their own products meet the characteristics or not. They are also responsible for developing any missing requirements for their products. No certification is required for self-examination.
Simplicity: The criteria for industrial 4.0 products and their product characteristics should be presented as simply as possible, so that any company or organization can apply them without the help of third parties.
Own label instead of general label: There is no general label associated with the criteria for industrial 4.0 products and the necessary product characteristics. Each company or organization can use its own label, reference it to the criteria, and refer customers to the criteria. Conversely, customers can actively ask if a company label meets the criteria for industrial 4.0 products.
Free use: It is up to each company and organization to publicly use the criteria for industrial 4.0 products and their product characteristics. They can be used, for example, in product catalogs, at trade fairs or for advertising. Public use is explicit asked for; it also contributes to the deployment of the criteria for industrial 4.0 products.
Free of charge: The use of the criteria for industrial 4.0 products and their product characteristics is free of charge for companies and organizations. Anyone can use it for their products.
Executing associations and organizations: A vendor-independent entity defines the criteria for industrial 4.0 products in a solid and transparent process and publishes them. This ensures that the criteria for industrial 4.0 products are generally valid and that the correct and necessary technical product characteristics are used. A change to the established criteria for industrial 4.0 products is only possible via this entity.
Source and further information: https://industrial-iot.com/2017/03/criteria-industrie-4-0-products/
Downloads:
ZVEI-LF_Welche_Kriterien_muessen_I_4.0_Produkte_erfuellen_17.03.17.pdf