Abstract: In the context of Industry 4.0, this paper examines the integration of four key design principles – Interconnection, Information Transparency, Decentralized Decisions, and Technical Assistance – into the Reference Architecture Model Industry 4.0 (RAMI 4.0). While RAMI 4.0 offers a robust foundation, its abstract nature hinders practical application. The analysis reveals that RAMI 4.0 partially incorporates the design principles, however because of its abstract nature companies often fail to instantiate it. In an industrial case study of a plastic housing production system, a more specific reference architecture is developed based on RAMI 4.0 which incorporates all30 four design principles more explicitly. The paper underscores the importance of more detailed reference architectures for effective system design in Industry 4.0, offering actionable insights for companies navigating the complexities of this evolving industrial landscape.

Keywords: Reference architecture, Industry 4.0, Reference architecture model 4.0, Model-based systems engineering, Design principles.

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