Realistic modelling of flexibility and dependence in production systems in Industry 4.0 for analysing their productivity and availability

Abstract

Industry 4.0 offers a new opportunity to realize flexible and efficient production. Through modelling the production systems in Industry 4.0, potential delays, interrupts and defaults could be prognosticated and treated on time. Consequently, the productivity and efficiency of production systems can be enhanced. Flexibility has a far-reaching impact on the design of production systems in Industry 4.0 and is still a challenge in the modelling yet. In order to achieve realistic results, dependence must also be taken into account. In this article, a concept of flexible production system in Industry 4.0 is first presented. Then, two models of extended coloured stochastic Petri nets are built and simulated using a software REALIST to investigate the features of flexibility and dependence in production systems in Industry 4.0. As a result, the productivity and availability of production systems are analysed and discussed in the end.