The present
subject matter relates to a method comprising creating in a
distributed manufacturing automation system (100, 200)
overlay networks (300, 400, 500, 600) of nodes, wherein each
overlay network of the
overlay networks (300, 400, 500, 600) spans one or more levels (101, 113, 115, 117) of an
automation pyramid, wherein the nodes represent
system resources of networks (130, 133, 135, 137) of the
system (100, 200). An application for performing a manufacturing task may be created. The application may be divided into application components according to the predefined functions and information flow, wherein the application components belong to one or more levels (101, 113, 115, 117) of the
automation pyramid. One or more overlay networks (300, 400, 500, 600) that enable execution of the application components may be selected. Connections to the selected overlay networks (300, 400, 500, 600) may be established. The application components may be deployed in the selected overlay networks (300, 400, 500, 600) using the established connections. The application may be used for planning and / or controlling the manufacturing in the
distributed manufacturing automation system (100, 200).