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An analysis of interoperability in materials and manufacturing: Definitions, classifications, requirements, and recommendations

Abstract

In this paper, we analyze the interoperability landscape for materials and manufacturing in a broad sense and with a particular focus in the context of data. To set the stage and give an overview of the various facets of this topic, we collect and compare existing definitions and classifications of interoperability (its types, layers, levels) and summarize recommendations from various entities and communities. After this, we carry out an analysis on a set of interoperability scenarios, propose a broad structure of requirements for interoperability, and list some key components that can be used to meet these requirements, with a particular emphasis on the role of semantic technologies and knowledge representation. Finally, we highlight future challenges and suggest directions for best practices. Throughout the paper, we emphasize common points and differences in the landscape. Through this process, relevant dimensions are identified, and various tables are provided with useful syntheses and structured categorizations that can serve as a base for future theoretical work, as well as immediate practical guidance (e.g., for requirements gathering, literature navigation).

Category

Academic article

Language

English

Author(s)

  • Silvia Chiacchiera
  • John Breslin
  • Ana Teresa Correia
  • Jesper Friis
  • Emanuele Ghedini
  • Gerhard Goldbeck
  • Martin Thomas Horsch
  • Hedi Karray
  • Bjørn Tore Løvfall
  • Jinzhi Lu
  • Ilaria Maria Paponetti
  • María Poveda-Villalón
  • Arkopaul Sarkar
  • Umutcan Serles
  • Ilian T. Todorov
  • Noel Vizcaino
  • Lan Yang
  • Francesco Antonio Zaccarini

Affiliation

  • SINTEF Industry / Process Technology
  • SINTEF Industry / Materials and Nanotechnology
  • Norwegian University of Life Sciences

Date

10.04.2026

Year

2026

Published in

Journal of Industrial Information Integration

ISSN

2467-964X

View this publication at Norwegian Research Information Repository