arXiv subjects

Christoph Binder

Publications and source records attributed to Christoph Binder.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

Embedding the MLOps Lifecycle into OT Reference Models

Machine Learning Operations (MLOps) practices are increas- ingly adopted in industrial settings, yet their integration with Opera- tional Technology (OT) systems presents significant challenges. This pa- per analyzes the fundamental obstacles in combining MLOps with OT en- vironments and proposes a systematic approach to embed MLOps prac- tices into established OT reference models. We evaluate the suitability of the Reference Architectural Model for Industry 4.0 (RAMI 4.0) and the International Society of Automation Standard 95 (ISA-95) for MLOps integration and present a detailed mapping of MLOps lifecycle compo- nents to RAMI 4.0 exemplified by a real-world use case. Our findings demonstrate that while standard MLOps practices cannot be directly transplanted to OT environments, structured adaptation using existing reference models can provide a pathway for successful integration.

cs.LG↗

arXiv2023

IT/OT Integration by Design

The four Industry 4.0 design principles information transparency, technical assistance, interconnection, and decentralized decisions pose challenges in integrating information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) solutions in industrial systems. These different solutions have conflicting requirements, making interfaces between them problematic for both systems and organizations. An Industrial Business Process Twin (IBPT) entity, acting as an intermediary between the realms of IT and OT, has been proposed in a previous work, to effectively reduce the amount of required IT/OT interfaces in an attempt of overcoming this situation. In this work, we investigate the effects of this approach during the design phase. We argue that, by eliminating potentially conflicting direct interfaces between IT and OT stakeholders within the organizational structure, this approach effectively eliminates conflicting communication channels within the system design. In order to verify our argument, we develop a model of our IBPT concept according to the Reference Architecture Model Industrie 4.0 (RAMI4.0) using an Industry 4.0 scenario addressing the four essential Industry 4.0 design principles. Results show that the IBPT approach indeed eliminates potentially conflicting IT/OT interfaces during the system design phase.

cs.SE↗

arXiv2023

Digital Twins of Business Processes as Enablers for IT / OT Integration

The vision of Industry 4.0 introduces new requirements to Operational Technology (OT) systems. Solutions for these requirements already exist in the Information Technology (IT) world, however, due to the different characteristics of both worlds, these solutions often cannot be directly used in the world of OT. We therefore propose an Industrial Business Process Twin (IBPT), allowing to apply methods of one world to another not directly but, instead, to a representation, that is in bidirectional exchange with the other world. The proposed IBPT entity acts as an intermediary, decoupling the worlds of IT and OT, thus allowing for an integration of IT and OT components of different manufacturers and platforms. Using this approach, we demonstrate the four essential Industry 4.0 design principles information transparency, technical assistance, interconnection and decentralized decisions based on the gamified Industry 4.0 scenario of playing the game of Nine Men's Morris. This scenario serves well for agent based Artificial Intelligence (AI)-research and education. We develop an Open Platform Communications Unified Architecture (OPC UA) information and communication model and then evaluate the IBPT component with respect to the different views of the Reference Architecture Model Industry 4.0 (RAMI4.0).

cs.SE↗