Cloud-based data exchange and messaging platform implementation for Virtual Factory environment

Recent advances in Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have allowed manufacturing enterprises to improve business collaboration both within an enterprise and among enterprises, for achieving mutual benefits. The companies can achieve such business benefits through a formation of new business domain known as Virtual Factory (VF), which is particularly beneficial and applicable within Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). In this research paper, we introduce a Cloud-based data exchange and messaging platform to facilitate the integration and interoperability within VF partners. This information exchange is considered as a critical factor to face challenges of VF domain. Within this data exchange and message platform three essential components are included such as: message routing, message transformation and gateways. To realize a high degree of performance, reliability, scalability and stability, this platform is designed as cloud-based. In this paper, we also discussed technologies, challenges, trends and issues that must be addressed to implement this Cloud-based Data Exchange and Messaging Platform.