The great challenge of digitalization is to control the information exchange which it enables.
Communication between all systems is therefore only the first step towards Industry 4.0.
Much more important are the properties of communication, such as stability, quality of information and information models, interoperability of interfaces and generalization of information models.
In order for an electroplating unit (see Figure  1) to be integrated into a digitized production plant, a holistic information model must be created for it.
The information model contains all information about a process engineering plant.
Without an information model, serious digital twins are unthinkable.

Goals

An information model is to be created for an electroplating unit.
For this, the electroplating unit must be analyzed and understood.
In addition, research must be conducted on what information is available about the individual components of an exemplary unit and whether similar information models have been researched.
It is necessary to map all the information that can be found in order to group it into meaningful categories.
To validate the information model, a simple application should be created with which the information model can be explored.

Useful pre-requisites

• Basic IT and programming skills.
• Enjoyment of conceptual thinking and work.
• Interest in process and automation technology.
• Lecture on Cyber Physical Production Systems will be useful.