Analysis-oriented structure for runtime data in Industry 4.0 asset administration shells

The need of analysis-oriented structure for runtime data in manufacturing process control units such as PLCs is identified and discussed from an engineering point of view and based on an industrial case. This is evaluated as an important building block for obtaining data from production equipment that can be fully utilized in an Industry 4.0 application. When aligned with an I4.0 asset administration shell, analysis-oriented structuring of runtime data will enable generic, multivariate, inter-asset analysis and allow dealing with unforeseen situations where originally unintended analyses are needed, without an ad hoc effort of data pre-processing. Based on this identified need, we propose the outline of a data structure with focus on column-based formatting, data batches based on process sequence and coordinated sampling rates. Benefits for both data accuracy and data storage architecture are discussed, with the aim of improving the value of analyses of previous events or production periods and increasing the value of I4.0 applications.