Manageable and Scalable Manufacturing IT Through an App Based Approach

Software is playing an ever-increasing role in providing the flexibility and efficiency required for handling complex processes. However, the IT capabilities of manufacturers are mostly limited to legacy systems or expensive, slow and inflexible development of new software. Therefore, new paradigms are needed for managing and scaling modern manufacturing processes with the help of software systems. This paper presents the organizational concepts of a software eco-system for the shop floor based on independent software modules called Apps. Additionally, we present the methodology used in the creation of industrial Apps. These concepts were successfully implemented in real world manufacturing scenarios. We focus on describing the specific challenges and requirements for industrial Apps, the technical architecture of the ScaleIT platform and a step by step process model to identify App ideas. An evaluation in the form of a questionnaire describes the assessment of the App-based approach by an industrial consortium.