The Integration of Industry 4.0 in the Processes of a Company in the Gas Sector through a Holistic Enterprise Architecture

Abstract

Abstract: Industry 4.0 is a rapidly evolving concept that has received attention in recent years and aims to achieve a higher and more efficient production rate through automation. Because its implementation involves the improvement of business processes, this concept is inextricably linked to Business Process Management. Business Process Modeling is a Business Process Management tool that can be used to describe an organization's processes in order to elaborate and improve them. As a result, models are widely used for the better comprehension of processes and as a first step in introducing new concepts, such as Industry 4.0, into an organization. Hence, a comprehensive framework of a modeling architecture is required for an organization that desires a holistic transmission to new concepts based on its needs, operations, and structure. In this paper, a holistic enterprise architecture, along with an instance of it, which is proposed in a company that manages the high and medium-pressure natural gas network is presented, encompassing the appropriate models for the recording and detailed presentation of business processes and how Industry 4.0 principles and applications could be incorporated to them. Keywords: Industry 4.0; Modeling Architecture; Enterprise Architecture; Gas Sector; Business Processes