Architecture of a Model in the Middle approach for virtual commissioning and integration of production entities

Virtual commissioning is evolving to become an indispensable part included in modern planning processes. New challenges related to recent technologies like the usage of information models in Industry 4.0 implementations make it necessary to test the behaviour in production-related communication beforehand. Different data aquisition methods have to be evaluated concerning their benefits, risks and the environment it has to be implemented in. Information model management and aggregation can help to fulfill these tasks. This concept paper focuses on architectural challenges related to the implementation of information models in brown- as well as green-field approaches and the overall management system behind.