Keith Popplewell

An intelligent information framework relating customer requirements and product characteristics

Abstract Market driven strategies encourage enterprises to produce products that customers want to buy, and therefore can improve an enterprise’s market position. Few organisations make effective use of market, competitor and customer information. Information modelling and intelligent support tools help define product specifications focused on fulfilling customer requirements and facilitating information sharing between members of extended design teams. Design effort can be targeted at particular product features, which yield maximum benefits for customer satisfaction. The Market Driven Design System provides comprehensive, intelligent support, meeting the challenges of effectively modelling, using and sharing valuable, yet imprecise, non-technical market information during product design.

Metamodels in manufacturing: a review

Abstract Simulation is frequently used in design of manufacturing systems. Traditionally it is used to design individual production shops or cells, but manufacturers are becoming aware that the major gains in competitiveness made necessary by the growing challenge of global markets, are available only from integrated design of entire factories. In this context simulation models become unwieldy. Meanwhile metamodelling techniques have been maturing, and may provide a more versatile extension to simulation, and deeper insight into modelled systems. Further, the relative computational simplicity of metamodels offers the prospect of practically modelling more extensive systems. This paper reviews the published development of metamodelling techniques, with particular emphasis on their relevance to manufacturing.

The application of discrete linear control theory to the analysis and simulation of multi-product, multi-level production control systems

This paper examines how multi-product, multi-level production control systems may be represented in terms of discrete linear control theory models. The transfer functions are derived for material requirements planning (MRP) and re-order cycle systems. The performance of each type of system is derived under selected conditions and the way in which a general system may be analysed is described. The method has proved easy to use. Computer programs exist which enable one to assemble the elements of proposed forecasting, inventory and production control systems, and hence determine the stability and transient and steady state responses to standard inputs. This has proved to be a quick and efficient way of evaluating alternative production systems and examining whether better methods of, for example, stock re-ordering or forecasting are required.

A review of the support tools for the process of assembly method selection and assembly planning

This paper reviews the substantial body of research into software and other tools to support the closely related methodologies of assembly system selection, design for assembly, and assembly planning. Reported research has led to the adoption of a number of tools in current use in manufacturing industry. Here, the scope of this research, and its practical applications, is considered with a view to identifying the application domain of each approach and support tool. The authors are led to the conclusion that there is a need for further research into a methodology for the initial selection of the assembly method (e.g. assembly line, fixed point assembly, etc), and that such a methodology should consider not only factors of product technology, but also the industrial environment where assembly is to take place. Further, a knowledge-based decision support tool could facilitate the application of this methodology, and expand decision support further into the selection of assembly planning methods for subsequent application.

Interpretive structural modelling of risk sources in a virtual organisation

Speedier network decision making together with shorter time to bring items to market together with lower network operating costs all result from enhanced knowledge sharing. In addition reuse of enterprise and network knowledge resulting from improved capture means that any risk of repeating earlier project work is limited, repetition of past mistakes is reduced. Decisions are made with greater awareness of any risks involved and therefore there is likely to be a reduction in costs arising from faulty decisions and failed collaborations. While there are many advantages attached to the use of virtual organisations (VOs) there are also challenges, including risks that have become apparent through undertaking a review of the literature. In total 13 sources of risk were found stemming from the network related risks in a VO, where the emphasis of the study was placed. This paper contains a thorough study that will identify these threats as well as gaining a sound understanding of them by examining them one by one as they have been identified by the literature and previous studies. Subsequently, their relative importance will be analysed through the use of interpretive structural modelling (ISM) using information gathered in a questionnaire.

Sustainable interoperability: The future of Internet based industrial enterprises

Enterprise Interoperability is a high-impact productivity factor both within the private and the public sector, affecting the overall quality, yield time and cost of transactions, as well as the design of manufacturing operations or digital public services. This paper addresses the rationale and analysis of the results of the special issue on sustainable interoperability, which is defined here as focusing on novel strategies, methods and tools to maintain and sustain the interoperability of enterprise systems in networked environments as they evolve with their environments. The paper starts by reviewing current state of the systems interoperability research domain and describing the constitution of the community of systems interoperability research and application. We then outline this communitys progress on the development of a science base for Enterprise Interoperability. The paper then identifies how each paper in this special issue contributes to the body of knowledge on sustainable interoperability, according to three main development areas: Enterprise Network Configuration; Architectures and Data Models; and Fundamentals for an Enterprise Interoperability Science Base. Finally the paper discusses the aggregate contributions towards sustainable interoperability, in an evolving technological, business and social environment.

INFORMATION MODELLING : AN INTEGRATION OF VIEWS OF A MANUFACTURING ENTERPRISE

To compete in world markets, manufacturing enterprises must design and produce new products in an effective, competitive manner. To minimize product introduction times, they must be versatile, open to change, and ideally able to design and modify their own facilities and processes in parallel with new product design. The Factory Design Software Environment provides designers with an information-centred range of modelling and evaluation tools to enable progressive design of the manufacturing enterprise. The benefits of applying alternative views of the enterprise, throughout the design process are presented through an industrial case study.

Driving concurrency in a distributed concurrent engineering project team : a specification for an Engineering Moderator

SUMMARY Industry requires CAE systems of the future to be highly flexible and to provide support on multiple levels: assisting the activities both of individual engineers and of complete product design teams. The CAE system must provide accurate, consistent information to all users. It should also actively promote exchange of information and knowledge between team members. In outline an architecture for CAE systems of the future is proposed, and the purpose and structure of the various elements of this architecture are discussed. In particular a specialist, supervisory, co-ordinator application, called the Engineering Moderator is introduced in detail, and its performance requirements specified. This application addresses some fundamental requirements for provision of support for team working in a concurrent engineering environment, by encouraging and facilitating communication between team members.

Supporting Adaptive Enterprise Collaboration through Semantic Knowledge Services

The next phase of enterprise interoperability will address the sharing of knowledge within a Virtual Organisation (VO) to the mutual benefit of all VO partners. Such knowledge will be a driver for new enhanced collaborative enterprises, able to achieve the global visions of enterprise interoperability. This paper outlines the approach to be followed in the SYNERGY research project which envisages the delivery of Collaboration Knowledge services through interoperability service utilities (ISUs): trusted third parties offering web-based, pay-on-use services. The aim of SYNERGY is to enhance support of the networked enterprise in the successful, timely creation of, and participation in, collaborative VOs by providing an infrastructure and services to discover, capture, deliver and apply knowledge relevant to collaboration creation and operation. The proposed approach aims to (a) provide semantic ontology-based modelling of knowledge structures on collaborative working; (b) develop a service-oriented self-adaptive solution for knowledgebased collaboration services; and (c) facilitate the testing and evaluation of the efficiency and effectiveness of the solution in concrete case studies.

Manufacturing system engineering moderator: an aid for multidiscipline project teams

Manufacturing System Engineering is a complex process generally performed by a multidiscipline project team. The Manufacturing System must satisfy many different requirements and objectives so compromises generally have to be made to achieve a balanced design for the new or re-engineered Manufacturing System. Project team members must be aware when decisions are made that are significant to other team members. When teams are large and located in multiple sites, this can be very difficult to achieve, and intelligent support systems are necessary. The Manufacturing System Engineering Moderator is designed to monitor design decisions, to evaluate their significance to individual project team members and to communicate with any team members deemed necessary.