Why does it make sense for machines, components and systems from different industries to communicate across and among each other? And what opportunities and challenges does the global production language offer? These questions are discussed by Andreas Faath, Head of Machine Information Interoperability at VDMA, and Stefan Hoppe, President of the OPC Foundation, in the latest episode of VDMA's Industry Podcast. "Digital business models and value creation along the entire value chain only emerge when data and information are exchanged among each other. This forms the basis for today's innovation drivers in the context of Industrie 4.0," says Andreas Faath. OPC UA is the technological basis for the interoperable exchange of data.