Smart factory concepts and their fitness to the plastics processing industry: a critical review

Abstract

Abstract A key feature for implementing Industry 4.0 in practice is the Smart Factory. Although there has been much research on this buzzword, it can be observed that there is a need for a distinct definition. Furthermore, differentiation to other terms and paradigms, e.g., Cyber-Physical-Production-Systems (CPPS), Industrial-Internet-Of-Things (IIoT), or Industry 4.0, can hardly be found. To overcome these issues, the term "Smart Factory" was defined in the context of comparable terms and paradigms. Therefore, a literature research on 175 scientific contributions was performed and clustered into three categories regarding their scope, i.e., general literature review, conceptual work, and application-oriented case studies. Subsequently, a categorization of these contributions to their content either into terms and definitions, general discussion on challenges and chances, application-oriented engineering trends and technologies, resulting requirements and restrictions, and security and safety issues follows. As a result, three main pillars of Smart Factory objectives were determined, namely data analytics, automation, and modular structures. Finally, the readiness of the plastics processing industry in these pillars is discussed to transfer Smart Factory concepts into practical use and state high fitness, e.g., in terms of data acquisition and communication standards. This contribution supports researchers and practitioners in achieving a common understanding of the term "Smart Factory" and its specifications, providing them with a framework of technological objectives to offer industrial companies the right solutions for a comprehensive Smart Factory implementation. Furthermore, the categorization of the reviewed literature serves as a foundation for subsequent research within specific areas of interest by differentiating well-elaborated topics from scientific white spots.