Characterizing integration approaches: Identifying integration approach candidates for use in industrie 4.0

Facing the current trends in the lifecycles of products and manufacturing systems flexibility and adaptability are of general interest. To make them applicable integration approaches are required. Within this paper an attempt towards the detailed characterization of integration approaches and integration approach types is made based on a literature survey. It is intended to enable an informed decision for the selection of research directions towards modern integration approaches as required in the Industrie 4.0 approach as well as to identify candidates within the field of existing integration approaches for further investigation.