Francisco C. Lario

Enterprise integration—business processes integrated management: a proposal for a methodology to develop enterprise integration programs

Abstract An approach to develop Enterprise Integration Programs to assist enterprises in their migration path towards integration is proposed. It is called IE—GIP (Enterprise Integration—Business Processes Integrated Management, acronyms in Spanish). The topic is very important in industrial engineering nowadays because of the growing need to improve existing industrial systems and to organise such complex systems faster, better, and in a more systematic way. The contribution to the field of Enterprise Integration is mostly a methodological one. More specifically, it is based on the integration of Purdue Enterprise Reference Architecture (PERA) and Open System Architecture for Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIMOSA) principles to propose an integration approach for industrial enterprises. Starting from existing leading proposals (CIMOSA, PERA, GERAM), a methodology has been defined and some extension to an architecture and supporting computer tools are discussed. The proposal covers the life cycle of an Enterprise Integration Program in a top-down approach. The approach is centred on the business process concept, but is based on a vision/process/people/technology view of the enterprise. The methodology divides the work into two major phases before system construction: master planning and CIM programme development. The method adapts the system life cycle of PERA but uses, whenever possible, the CIMOSA architecture with its business process approach. New CIMOSA-like constructs are introduced to be used in activities along with the methodology when necessary. To support the modelling phases of the proposal and to provide guidance to users of the methodology, computer supported tools have been developed in the course of this work.

Collaborative forecasting in networked manufacturing enterprises

Purpose – This paper seeks to propose an overall model of collaborative forecasting for networked manufacturing enterprises.Design/methodology/approach – Contributions by several authors to collaborative forecasting have been analysed from different viewpoints. A collaborative‐forecasting model for networked manufacturing enterprises has been proposed and validated by means of a simulation study.Findings – This model significantly reduces the inventory levels of the whole network and improves customer service.Research limitations/implications – Simulation experiments were done with the enterprise network herein described. Future research will include the simulation of more complex enterprise network scenarios with different characteristics.Practical implications – The model can be implemented node‐to‐node, since not all the companies in the network have to participate, thus facilitating implementation and propagation throughout the network.Originality/value – The paper proposes a new structured planning a...

Building a production planning process with an approach based on CIMOSA and workflow management systems

Nowadays, one of the major challenges for enterprises is to stay competitive in todays changing market environment. This can be supported by business process models which on one hand are consistent and adequate (requirement #1), and on the other hand can be enacted and operated in an easy, fast, straightforward and integrated way (requirement #2). The CIMOSA architecture provides the basis for business process modelling to fulfil both of the above requirements. It supports the creation of consistent process models and allows to identify almost all the information required for the development of a workflow model. These models can be implemented using one of the commercial workflow management systems. In this paper we present the methodology based on the CIMOSA architecture that we have developed to build a workflow model in ©Lotus Notes for the forecasting and production planning processes in a tiles manufacturing enterprise. The CIMOSA approach has also been used to design the necessary software applications for processing the information of the resulting workflow system.

Dynamic modelling of Decision Systems (DMDS)

Abstract An approach to develop Dynamic Models to assist enterprises in their Decision Systems analysis and design towards integration is proposed. The DGRAI model proposed is based on GRAI Model. Time and considerations of human resources are introduced in order to simulate the Decision System. This article analyses the problem of representing the behaviour of a human decision-maker. This representation will not be attempted from the proper selection of alternative points of view, but from the dynamics of the procedures of decision-making. The problem of decisional aggregation–disaggregation is analysed in order to solve the multilevel decision connection. Parameters for decision activities, human resources and information quality are proposed. Equations for the Decision System quality evolution are presented. A relational database structure to maintain information is proposed. The basic operation principles of the Decision Systems simulation in the DGRAI frame are explained. Finally, the features of the DGRAI tool (a research prototype) are outlined.

Simulación de Cadenas de Suministro: Nuevas Aplicaciones y Áreas de Desarrollo

A literature review on supply chain simulation is presented. The paper summarizes the main concepts on simulation and analyzes more than 70 papers published between the years 2000 and 2006. The objective is to offer a state of the art for those who begin research in this area or are interested in the simulation as a tool to improve the supply chain in the strategic, tactical and operative levels. Fourty articles are selected considering the new approaches and applications, and classifies them according to eight criteria: objectives, analysis type, supply chain stages included, simulated processes, detail of each stage, simulation of the strategic level, type of simulation models, and simulation models of discrete events. The work finishes determining nine development areas of the new approaches and applications, of which the multi-agents systems and the strategies of collaboration and coordination are the most used and studied.

Conceptual Framework for the Interoperability Requirements of Collaborative Planning Process

In order to achieve the multiple benefits of the collaborative planning (CP) process in a supply network (SN) context, some interoperability-related obstacles should be saved. The design and characterization of the CP process is a critical time to identify not only the interoperability requirements (IR), but also the CP components they affect. This paper presents a conceptual framework for the simultaneous characterization of the CP process and the identification of the potential IR to be saved for implementing collaboration. This early IR identification can help define the interoperability problem space that is essential for the solution space definition, thus saving subsequent costs and efforts.

IDR: A Proposal for Managing Inter-Organizational Business Processes by Using Web-Services Oriented Architectures

Collaborative Networked Organizations are gaining more attention from research bodies and academics as an emergent form of conducting business.

Developing an Object-Oriented Reference Model for Manufacturing

Abstract A fundamental early step in the design process for a Manufacturing System is to develop a model which describes adequately the proposed system, in order to be able to study and to evaluate the impact of the design decisions on the system performance, before its construction. Among the different modeling methodologies applicable, the Object-Oriented Methodology is very useful due to its capability to represent all aspects involved in a complex Manufacturing System, including its dynamic dependencies. However, no such models exist at present in the literature. This paper shows such a detailed Object-Oriented Reference Model for Manufacturing System. This new model can be used to develop and to simulate particular manufacturing object-oriented models.

Inter-Organizational Knowledge Management. The Importance of Organizational and Environmental Context

This paper analyzes knowledge management in an inter-organizational level. First, a brief literature review is carried out. After, knowledge management facilitators are studied, analyzing two key factors; the organizational and the environmental context. Last point studies the particular case of SMEs, studying the importance of the cluster concept in order to improve the knowledge management process in an inter-organizational level.