Edge, Fog and Cloud Computing framework for flexible production

Industry 4.0 (I4.0) offers tremendous potential benefits across various sectors. Manufacturing can derive the greatest value from it. However, the rate of adoption remains low due to barriers such as management commitment, lack of knowledge, and costs. Simple solutions that require minimal investment and carry low risk are the best way to introduce I4.0 into companies. The shared data flow generated by sensors and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) can provide valuable insights thanks to new connectivity between systems. This deeper knowledge enables the creation of highly flexible production systems capable of meeting customer demands and achieving mass customization. However, a key point too little addressed yet is that the intensity of data flow can lead to latency and data loss issues, resulting in a system unable to meet the real requirements as answers are provided too late. To address this challenge, the authors propose a framework based on the integration of Edge, Fog, and Cloud Computing, aimed at extracting maximum value from data by analysing it both locally and centrally. This approach reduces latency in production systems, enhances flexibility, and enables predictive maintenance. The result is an architectural framework that integrates Edge, Fog, and Cloud Computing to improve the flexibility of a multi-product manufacturing system. The implementation of I4.0 in existing Industry 3.0 plants facilitates flexible production capable of meeting mass customization requirements and achieving high resilience. In conclusion, it has been demonstrated that Edge, Fog, and Cloud Computing can be effectively integrated into a Flexible Production framework.