Software Architecture: Experts in sustainable software architectures

Why a well-thought-out software architecture is crucial for industrial software systems

Software architecture forms the structural foundation of complex software systems. It defines how software components are organised, how they interact with one another, and how a system can evolve throughout its entire life cycle. Highly complex software systems are being developed today, particularly in the mechanical and plant engineering sectors and the automotive industry. Control software, embedded systems, communication interfaces, as well as IoT and cloud technologies must work together reliably. A clear software architecture ensures that these systems remain structured, manageable and maintainable in the long term.

ITQ develops software architectures for industrial software systems that combine operational stability with the capacity for long-term evolution. The aim is to create an architecture that meets current requirements whilst offering sufficient flexibility for future extensions. It is also important to avoid unnecessary complexity and over-engineering.

Your benefits at a glance:

A clear structure for complex software systems
Maintainable and extensible software architectures over long product life cycles
Reduced development risks through clear architectural concepts
Higher software quality through clearly defined interfaces and responsibilities
Improved testability and integration of software components
Future-proof integration of embedded, edge, IoT and cloud technologies

Finding the right solution together

Your personal contact for software engineering will be happy to advise you on your specific enquiry.

Get in touch now for a no-obligation consultation.

Dominik Schaller

ITQ Branch Manager, North Rhine-Westphalia

„The biggest challenge lies not in implementation, but in designing an architecture that makes complexity manageable in a structured way.“

Structured Software Architectures for Complex Technical Systems

Modern machines and systems consist of a multitude of interconnected software components. In addition to traditional control systems, embedded software, industrial communication protocols, and IoT and cloud platforms are also used. As functionality increases, so does the complexity of the software.

In many companies, this results in software systems that have evolved over time, characterised by unclear structures, a lack of modularity and dependencies that are difficult to trace. Changes lead to a significant amount of coordination work, integration risks and limited maintainability throughout the system’s lifecycle.

This is precisely where a well-thought-out software architecture comes into its own: it creates transparency, defines clear structures and specifies how software components interact with one another. This ensures that systems remain manageable and can be expanded and adapted in the long term.

Software architecture as the foundation of long-lasting software systems

Typical challenges within a company:

Only a software architecture that takes long-term maintainability and extensibility into account can deliver stable and future-proof software systems.

Services relating to software architecture and software engineering

ITQ supports companies in the development, evaluation and refinement of software architectures for industrial systems – ranging from embedded software and control systems to networked IoT and cloud solutions. We are technology-neutral and vendor-independent.

An overview of our services

Analysis and evaluation of existing software architectures
Development of new architectural concepts for industrial software systems
Refactoring and modernising existing software architectures
Definition of interfaces, communication concepts and system boundaries
Support for the modularisation and scaling of software platforms

Technological expertise

Embedded systems: Architecture for real-time and hardware-oriented software
Control systems: Software architecture for PLCs and automation systems
Programming languages: C/C++, IEC 61131-3 and modern software frameworks
Communication: OPC UA, industrial protocols and custom interfaces
IoT & Cloud: Integrating machines and plant into edge and cloud platforms

Procedure for developing software architectures

The development of a viable software architecture begins with a structured analysis of the requirements and the technical framework of a system. ITQ adopts a systematic approach to developing robust software architectures that can be maintained over the long term. Particularly in the case of complex industrial software systems, a clearly defined architectural process ensures that systems remain manageable even as complexity increases, interconnectivity grows and life cycles lengthen.

Project phases

Analysis of system requirements

Documentation of functional and non-functional requirements such as performance, real-time capability, security, scalability and integrability.

Definition of the system structure and interfaces

Establishing the basic architectural structure and defining the communication interfaces between software components, control systems and external systems.

Modularisation of the system

Structuring the software into clearly defined modules and components in order to reduce complexity and enable reusability.

Software Architecture Design

Implementation of automated tests at all relevant levels, as well as integration with continuous integration systems.

Iterative further development of the architecture

Continuous adaptation and further development of the architecture during implementation and throughout the system’s subsequent lifecycle.

Software Architecture in Practice

Sector: Logistics, Mechanical Engineering

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Further ITQ solutions

The services described form part of ITQ’s comprehensive service portfolio. ITQ combines technological expertise, a methodical approach and a deep understanding of processes to deliver sustainable solutions throughout the entire life cycle.

FAQs – Software Architecture

What is software architecture?

Software architecture describes the structure of a software system, including its components, interfaces and how they interact.

Why is software architecture important in mechanical engineering?

Industrial software systems are complex and long-lasting. A good architecture ensures that systems remain maintainable, extensible and stable in the long term.

When should a software architecture be defined?

Ideally, at the start of development. Making architectural decisions early on helps to avoid the need for subsequent adjustments and unnecessary complexity.

What factors influence software architecture?

Key factors include real-time capability, security, scalability, integration and technologies such as embedded systems, the Internet of Things (IoT) and the cloud.

Any further questions ...

When should an existing software architecture be redesigned?

When systems are difficult to maintain, adding new features becomes a labourious process, or the complexity becomes unmanageable.

How does ITQ provide support for software architecture projects?

ITQ analyses existing systems, develops clear architectural concepts and focuses on modularisation and defined interfaces to ensure long-term stability.