Guy Doumeingts

Architectures for enterprise integration and interoperability: Past, present and future

The paper defines and clarifies basic concepts of enterprise architectures. Then an overview on architectures for enterprise integration developed since the middle of the 1980s is presented. The main part of the paper focuses on the recent developments on architectures for enterprise interoperability. The main initiatives and existing works are presented. Future trends and some research issues are discussed and conclusions are given at the end of the paper.

European initiatives to develop interoperability of enterprise applications—basic concepts, framework and roadmap

Abstract This paper presents basic concepts, framework and roadmaps to develop interoperability of enterprise applications and software. The paper is a summary of the main work carried out in Europe to elaborate interoperability development roadmaps and to prepare forthcoming R&D projects under the Six Framework Programme (FP6). The originality of the approach is to tackle interoperability problem from multiple but integrated views. The state-of-the-art, user requirements and visions relating to develop interoperability are presented. Recommendations for future works are discussed and conclusions given at the end.

Architectures for integrating manufacturing activities and enterprises

Abstract This paper is a summary of the major technical report of the IFAC/IFIP Task Force on Architectures for Integrating Manufacturing Activities and Enterprises. It presents a synopsis of the investigations of pertinent architectures undertaken, and the findings generated relating to the suitability of various architectures for the integration task. It also presents the Task Forces recommendations for achieving a “complete” architecture in terms of the necessary capabilities by “completing” a currently available architecture. The Task Force also outlined how a “best” architecture could be achieved by selecting and combining the best features of the available architectures.

GRAI integrated methodology and its mapping onto generic enterprise reference architecture and methodology

Abstract The paper presents the basic concepts of GERAM (generic enterprise reference architecture and methodology) developed recently by the IFAC/IFIP Task Force on Architectures for Enterprise Integration, and the GRAI integrated methodology (GIM) elaborated by GRAI/LAP (Laboratory of Automation and Productics) of University Bordeaux I. The focus of the paper is on the comparison and mapping of GIM onto GERAM and shows that the basic concepts of these two approaches converge.

Design methodology for advanced manufacturing systems

Abstract This paper presents methodology for advanced manufacturing systems (AMS) design. After the presentation of the problematic to get specifications of AMS, we make a complete survey on conceptual models used in such methods (CAM.i, NBS, GRAI), then the various tools (SADT, PETRI nets, IDEFO, SATT) and the tools and methods for each subsystems: decisional (GRAI), informational (entity/relationship, SSAD, CACI, IDEF1, Merise) and physical (GRAFCET, GEMMA, MFM, IMMS). In the last part we present in detail the GRAI method and new developments.

Methodologies for designing CIM systems: a survey

Abstract It is a well known fact in the industrial world today, that CIM systems cannot be bought. They must be designed by the user, who will choose and integrate the various components. The selection of these will be influenced by such factors as their availability on the market, the human aspects, difficulty in capturing the knowledge and complexity of the task. The design phase must be guided by a methodology which makes possible the defining of the possible solutions. We try in this paper to define what could be a methodology, bringing together concepts such as reference model, modelling formalism and the structured approach. We illustrate these concepts through various research efforts undertaken during the last decade.

GRAI Grid Decisional Modelling

Among formalisms used to model complex systems and organisations, the GRAI Grid has a special status because it focuses on the decisional aspects of the management of systems. The GRAI grid defines the points where decisions are made (decision centres) and the information relationships among these. Models built using the grid allow the analysis and design of how decisions are co-ordinated and synchronised in the enterprise.

Modelling the engineering design system to improve performance

This paper deals with the GRAI-R & D model based on the GRAI methodology to model engineering design systems in order to improve the performance of product engineering design. The aim is to optimise the synchronisation and coordination of the development of several design projects in an environment with limited resources (material, human, know-how, etc.) and satisfy the strategic performance objectives of the enterprise (cost, quality, flexibility, lead time, deadlines, etc.). After presenting the concepts of design control, the characteristics of the corresponding control system are described. The control system is a coordinated combination of the design process and product knowledge. The GRAI decision-making breakdown criteria (functional and temporal criteria) have been used for each design control field to structure coordination decisions. The structuring and identification of the interactions between decisions help engineers to coordinate and synchronise their design tasks. A graphic formalism is used for the design control system to facilitate understanding, communication, information and acquisition by design decision-makers. Experimental results are presented to demonstrate the advantages of using the GRAI-R & D model.

How to decentralize decisions through GRAI model in production management

Abstract Our Laboratory has been working in the field of Production Management for over a decade. Our research has been made in a pragmatic way, alternating analyses on the ground, research for solutions to formulated problems and experiments of possible solutions back on the ground. We have particularly looked into the structure of Production Management Systems (PMS) because we have noticed the lack in existing of a global model and the difficulty in drawing up some specifications for these systems. During our research of a global structure, we have been quickly faced with a lack of PMS efficiency in driving the physical system. The complexity of this structure led us to split it up into more and more simple elements drawing our approach from MELESE concepts [1]. But ASHBY concepts dealing with variety have led us to split up again and to decentralize decision centers in order to make possible the driving of PMS [2]. In this paper we will present the model which has allowed us to design a specific PMS organized into a hierarchy with a decentralized decision center.

A contribution of system theory to sustainable enterprise interoperability science base

Even if the research domain related to interoperability has been developed for more than 10years and particularly for the last 8years, the different kinds of interoperability and the different problems to solve need to be consolidated in order to define a real science. Moreover, because of the continuous evolution of enterprises in supply chains, interoperability problems must continuously be considered and solved in order to reach a sustainable interoperability. The objective of this prospective research paper is to discuss how system theory (ST), applied to system of systems, is able to support the development of sustainable enterprise interoperability science base. After an introduction which reminds the definition of enterprise interoperability and the development of this domain in Europe, the system theory concepts are introduced. Then, the requirements are described to support the determination of the necessary concepts to develop a science base for sustainable enterprise interoperability. This part also describes how the concepts of system theory meet the defined requirements. The fourth part presents a specific approach based on system theory in order to manage the evolution of interoperability in enterprises and to reach sustainable interoperability. Then last part illustrates this work with a concrete example showing how ST concepts are used in GRAI methodology for instance to represent business process and decision interoperability problems.