A cyber-physical production system includes a plurality of cyber-physical units configured to collectively produce a product comprising one or more workpieces. Each cyber-physical units comprises one or more automation system devices, a network interface and a processor. The network interface is configured to receive one or more skill instances. Each skill instance provides a machine-independent request for transformation of a workpiece by the one or more automation system devices. The processor is configured to execute each of the one or more skill instances by applying behaviors that control the automation system devices.