Didier Crestani

Using competencies in performance estimation: From the activity to the process

Performance estimation of enterprise processes generally involves models focused on a particular viewpoint (temporal, financial, etc.). This estimation rarely takes the impact of the human factor into account. It is now fully understood that it is important to include this factor when modelling and analyzing enterprise processes. In this paper, a conceptual approach to human resource modelling is proposed on the basis of an analysis of human integration in enterprise process models. The human entity is described through individual and collective competencies, which are needed to implement a process activity and assess its performance. The proposed formally built model provides a new approach to correlating some qualitative and quantitative aspects of the human influence on industrial performance. This model formalizes and generalizes performance estimation by linking human capacities and process performance. This approach is illustrated on an industrial process example.

Enhancing fault tolerance of autonomous mobile robots

Experience demonstrates that autonomous mobile robots running in the field in a dynamic environment often breakdown. Generally, mobile robots are not designed to efficiently manage faulty or unforeseen situations. Even if some research studies exist, there is a lack of a global approach that really integrates dependability and particularly fault tolerance into the mobile robot design.This paper presents an approach that aims to integrate fault tolerance principles into the design of a robot real-time control architecture. A failure mode analysis is firstly conducted to identify and characterize the most relevant faults. Then the fault detection and diagnosis mechanisms are explained. Fault detection is based on dedicated software components scanning faulty behaviors. Diagnosis is based on the residual principle and signature analysis to identify faulty software or hardware components and faulty behaviors. Finally, the recovery mechanism, based on the modality principle, proposes to adapt the robots control loop according to the context and current operational functions of the robot.This approach has been applied and implemented in the control architecture of a Pioneer 3DX mobile robot. Autonomous mobile robotics fails to carry out complex mission in dynamic environment.Presentation of a global fault tolerant methodology enhancing robots dependability.FMECA fault forecasting and failure detection using dedicated software modules.Diagnosis based on signature analysis and recovery using autonomy level adaptation.Implementation and experiments of these concepts in a real-time control architecture.

Computer-aided decision for human task allocation with mono- and multi-performance evaluation

An efficient Binary Search-based approach used to determine the sets of human resources allowing one to reach, for an enterprise process, a given performance level is presented. It is based on an enterprise process performance methodology integrating human skill influence. In a first step, this approach is compared with algorithms such as Hybrid Taboo-Descent, Simulated Annealing and Knapsack algorithms for different performance points of view (temporal, financial, quality oriented) on limited and large complexity examples. In a second step, this approach is generalized to integrate simultaneously several viewpoints.

Design and analysis of workflow processes with Petri nets

This paper aims to model workflow processes and to analyze them. From an enterprise model, we automatically translate the workflow processes into an equivalent Petri net which allows to check properties of good behavior. Thus, it is possible to verify the good modeling and to detect some process problems in the enterprise.

Formalization of a process activity performance estimation approach using human competencies

In a changing environment, the human factor is a key element to ensure the survival of an enterprise. Hence, it is necessary to model and analyse the enterprise processes with regard to both human and material resources. A French approach to process performance and its relation to the competence concept are presented. Several studies in which competence is integrated in the estimation of process performance are presented, and the method developed is described. It integrates individual and collective competencies to estimate the performance of an activity. This is first achieved in a specific case, and then generalized and formalized for different viewpoints. Finally, some new studies in which the proposed method was used are pointed out.

Implementation of an Approach of Performance Estimation for Enterprise Process Analysis

Abstract This paper presents an approach allowing to estimate the performance of enterprise processes. Many areas of performance estimation can be studied (temporal, quality, ... ). This approach takes into account the entities which can influence the performance of an enterprise (particularly human actors) through their characteristics. Mathematical laws allow to compose these influences for the studied areas. The proposed approach is used on a real industrial process.

Fault tolerance enhancement using autonomy adaptation for autonomous mobile robots

This paper presents how autonomy adaptation can be useful to enhance the fault tolerance of autonomous mobile robots. For that, we proposed a global and structured methodology which allows integrating specific fault tolerant mechanisms into an adaptive control architecture. When a problem is detected, the autonomous behavior of the robot is automatically adapted to overcome it. The human operator can punctually or definitively be inserted in the control loop to replace the damaged functionalities and to ensure the success of the mission. Experimental results on a mobile robot are proposed to illustrate the autonomy adaptation.

CONSTRUCTION OF CHANGE TRAJECTORIES FOR MANUFACTURING ENTERPRISE

Abstract The problem of change management in very complex and unstable environment is still not often tackled, despite a real need from the industrial stakeholders. This article proposes a three-step change management aided decision approach. Firstly the enterprise is described using a systemic approach using the Sagace framework. Secondly, the state of the enterprise system is characterized and evaluated using three classes of performance indicators for enterprise control, adaptation and anticipation viewpoints. Finally modelling production management methods makes possible to build the change trajectories which, from state to state, lead to the desired performance objectives. This approach which is still in the development and evaluation phase is illustrated through a didactic example.

Automatic partitioning for deterministic test

Automatic partitioning for digital circuits is proposed. The partitions are defined by using functional testability measures and a test difficulty estimation. The software, developed with an expert system generator, is embedded in a hierarchical test generation process. The partitioning technique proposed uses difficulty test estimation corresponding to the maximal number of logical gates that can be embedded in a given partition. This parameter represents the maximal number of gates that can be handled by the tool.<<ETX>>

Toward Performance Guarantee for Autonomous Mobile Robotic Mission: An Approach for Hardware and Software Resources Management

Mission performance is a large concept. It is rarely addressed in the context of autonomous mobile robotics. This paper proposes a generic framework addressing the concept of performance for autonomous mobile robotic mission. Moreover it presents an approach to manage the mobile robot hardware and software resources during the mission execution according to performance objectives. Simulation results illustrate the proposed approach on a patrolling mission example.