Reference Architectures for Industry 4.0: Literature Review

Currently, production systems are receiving the application of more advanced, integrated and connected technologies to optimize the performance of their manufacturing processes. The new technological solutions demand architectures that support intelligent solutions for a new digitalized industry. However, production systems already in operation have difficulty in implementing these technologies. The existing barriers limit the availability of the direct integration of different systems contemplated in an automation system architecture. This article systematically reviews the existing literature to portray the characteristics of each architecture and that can guide the adoption of new technologies. Through this review, emerging reference architectures were identified, such as RAMI4.0, IIRA, IBM Industry 4.0 and NIST Smart Manufacturing. In conclusion, the article presents a framework for considering which model best fits with the new technological solutions.