Leasing of Production Control Processes – PLC as a Service in Industry 4.0

Srđan Tomić – Belgrade School of Engineering Management, University Union – Nikola Tesla, 43 Vojvode Mišića Blvd., Serbia

Luka Latinović – Belgrade School of Engineering Management, University Union – Nikola Tesla, 43 Vojvode Mišića Blvd., Serbia

7th International Scientific-Business Conference – LIMEN 2021 – Leadership, Innovation, Management and Economics: Integrated Politics of Research – CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS, Online/virtual, December 16, 2021, published by the Association of Economists and Managers of the Balkans, Belgrade; Printed by: SKRIPTA International, Belgrade, ISBN 978-86-80194-54-7, ISSN 2683-6149, DOI: https://doi.org/10.31410/LIMEN.2021

Abstract

Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) represent a settled technol­ogy that is well established and ubiquitous within the automation of indus­trial processes. This technology is a significant automation foundation, and PLCs are expected to be needed in the future, even in the era of Industry 4.0. However, these controllers have to satisfy a variety of requirements in new era production paradigms. This manuscript gives a brief overview of the current state of the practice, explaining the main reasons for the persistence of PLC technology, while further examining the possibility of the shift towards the direction of their replacement by a cloud service. Thereby, the introduction of the service paradigm could also play an important role in future industrial automation. This paper discusses such a concept of production control as a service substitution of the traditional PLCs. Its application would significantly increase flexibility by fulfilling industry 4.0 requirements such as autonomy, interchangeability and reconfigurability, and would allow the creation of new business models that would lease production control processes.

LIMEN Conference

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ADDITIONAL READING

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