# Context-Aware System for Information Flow Management in Factories of the Future
###### Abstract  
The trends of the 21 st century are challenging the traditional production process due to the reduction in the life cycle of products and the demand for more complex products in greater quantities. Industry 4.0 (I4.0) was introduced in 2011 and it is recognized as the fourth industrial revolution, with the aim of improving manufacturing processes and increasing the competitiveness of industry. I4.0 uses technological concepts such as Cyber-Physical Systems, Internet of Things and Cloud Computing to create services, reduce costs and increase productivity. In addition, concepts such as Smart Factories are emerging, which use context awareness to assist people and optimize tasks based on data from the physical and virtual world. This article explores and applies the capabilities of context-aware applications in industry, with a focus on production lines. In specific, this paper proposes a context-aware application based on a microservices approach, intended for integration into a context-aware information system, with specific application in the area of manufacturing. The manuscript presents a detailed architecture for structuring the application, explaining components, functions and contributions. The discussion covers development technologies, integration and communication between the application and other services, as well as experimental findings, which demonstrate the applicability and advantages of the proposed solution. context; context awareness; context-aware applications; Industry 4.0; Internet of Things; microservices +
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I4.0 enables new technological ideas such as Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS), Internet of Things (IoT) and Cloud Computing to develop new services [6]. The adoption of I4.0 technologies enables more flexible production on a large scale, resulting in reduced lead times and increased efficiency [7]. Individually or collectively, the technologies incorporated into I4.0 promise to reduce costs and improve quality in manufacturing environments [8]. In addition, concepts such as Smart Factories are emerging, which use context awareness to assist people and optimize tasks based on data from the physical and virtual world [5]. Smart factories are made possible by advances in sensor technologies and wireless communications to automate the collection and distribution of information from physical events [9]. In these factories, technical assistance systems augment human skills, reducing errors and facilitating correct decisions [10]. Smart manufacturing uses advanced technologies for flexible, intelligent and reconfigurable processes, optimizing production and improving the product lifecycle [11]. It is characterized by the autonomy and decentralization of the agents involved, being highly integrated through the use of network technologies and manufacturing data, and is attracting great interest from companies [12]. Twenty-first century trends challenge production due to shorter life cycles, demand for complex products and unsustainable resource use practices [13]. Companies face significant challenges in the management and complexity of their production lines, where it is essential to maintain good performance [14]. In this situation, context-aware applications can play a key role in helping companies facing these challenges. They have the ability to understand the context of the factory in real time, processing it and generating relevant information for employees [15]. Context-aware applications are being implemented in various areas of the commercial sector, including manufacturing and smart factories, to assist Industry 4.0. Based on the context of the factories, these applications provide relevant information to workers through recommendations, assisting them with their tasks and helping to improve the management of the production process [16].