Standardization: A Key Factor of Industry 4.0

The Industry 4.0 promotes the use of information technologies in manufacturing processes to obtain customized products that satisfy new consumers by transforming the traditional model of automation to a model of interconnected services. This new model allows the communication between clients, factory and suppliers, creating an ecosystem that includes the so-called “smart” intelligence and allows to have a more flexible production system through the interconnection and sharing of data. In this new environment, Standardization is the key factor for this interconnected world. This paper analyzes the need to adapt existing standards or create new ones for Industry 4.0. The main contribution of this paper is to discuss the importance of standardization in Industry 4.0 and identify the aspects that represent a great opportunity for research and work.