Modular reference architecture for flexible process-oriented, data-driven smart manufacturing

The SHOP4CF Reference Architecture provides a comprehensive and modular foundation for smart manufacturing, with explicit support for flexible, integrated production processes and data management. It represents the primary outcome of a large‑scale, five‑year research and innovation project conducted across Europe within the Horizon 2020 framework.

Grounded in both scientific research and industrial practice, the architecture builds on established manufacturing standards such as ISA‑95 and RAMI 4.0. It uniquely integrates software and data reference architectures with lifecycle models for digital solutions and components, ensuring a balanced alignment between product and process perspectives in digital transformation.

The proposed architecture is validated through 36 real‑world industrial applications developed across Europe as part of the SHOP4CF project, demonstrating its practical relevance and scalability in diverse manufacturing contexts.

The paper is available in open‑access form here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmsy.2026.01.010

The figures below provide a first impression of the architecture. It builds on two software life cycles, connected by a software module provisioning platform, allowing for the composition of extensible, solution-specific smart manufacturing support systems in a structured architecture framework.