Tom Kirkham

An ecosystem for user centric learning: revolution or evolution?

Development of Digital Business Ecosystems (DBE) is commonly associated with a top-down, grant-funded approach that aims to encourage service-based co-operation between organisations. The implementation of DBEs is often focused on specific tasks and the implementation of new processes. Projects are often linked to time-limited funding resources and rely on a willingness between organisations to collaborate towards specific goals. The expectation is often that through the reconfiguration of processes via DBE technology and the sheer focus of effort, the outcomes will be dramatic and often revolutionary in nature. However in reality the sustainability and impact of these projects varies widely. In terms of the wider DBE concept, the result of these projects is often a legacy of systems integration and process addition, rather than of process evolution in the DBE. The SAMSON project aims to take a different approach to the development of a DBE by using the technology as a catalyst to support and aid future developments in a regional learning community, rather than attempting a systems overhaul. The project is developing services to encourage the use of emerging standards-based technology in existing processes. These developments are forming the community DBE that aims to enhance the existing processes and encourage innovation in the domain in a sustainable manner.

Evolving knowledge based product lifecycle management from a digital ecosystem to support automated manufacturing

This paper presents an approach at improving Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) in large scale multinational manufacturing companies using Ford Motor Company as a case study. The solution builds a software layer around an existing PLM infrastructure that uses Semantic Web Services (SWSs) to enable a new generation of PLM. This new PLM is then integrated into a digital ecosystem for factory automation using Ford Powertrain as a case study. The work illustrates how a Digital Business Ecosystem (DBE) can spur innovation and evolution in applications around this new type of PLM.

Access policy compliance testing in a user centric trust service infrastructure

Access Policy compliance testing within a trust network helps ensure that the services available to users are reliable, secure and trustworthy. In the TAS3 project Access Policy testing is a vital function of the trust network in which users and service providers interact. User-centric security management is enabled by using automated compliance testing using the TAS3 Audit Bus and OCT components to monitor service state and provide users with a new level of privacy protection in networks of services. The components have been deployed and tested in an employability scenario and present a foundation from which a new level of security for emerging service-based applications can be developed.

Improving manufacturing efficiency at ford using product centred knowledge management

Western manufacturing is under pressure to produce high quality customized products particularly in large manufacturing such as the car industry at low costs. Here the development of such product customization requires the adoption of innovative agile manufacturing techniques. To date this innovation has focused on the improved process development between the different stages of manufacturing Product Lifecycle Management (PLM). However in terms of implementing the application, data management techniques have lagged behind often leaving these processes disjointed and lacking in automation. This paper proposes an improved model based on innovation in the manufacturing PLM. Building on existing work in the use of ontologies for knowledge management, the paper applies these techniques to PLM. The implementation has been applied to develop a case study around a Ford production line. The prototype presents an innovative approach to PLM and tested using a state of the art Web Service infrastructure implemented on a Ford Powertrain test rig.

Embracing knowledge driven devices : service oriented standardisation of production management in automated lines

For multinational manufacturers the benefit of flexible real-time and distributed computing is yet to be fully embraced. This is because the critical business function of the manufacturer is on the disconnected shop floor. The support needed for an automated production line can be seen in service oriented computing environments. The current research work at Loughborough University into the application of embedded web services at the factory floor are yielding positive results in terms of integration within a distributed computing infrastructure. This is further enhanced with the integration of ontologies representing knowledge of the line being used in web services. This paper describes the development of the service infrastructure to present service enabled production line control, execution, configuration and monitoring.

An ecosystem for user centric learning: Revolution or evolution?

The SAMSON project uses technology as a catalyst to support and aid future developments in a regional learning community. This is in contrast to many ecosystem approaches that attempt a systems overhaul. The project is developing services to encourage the use of emerging standards–based technology in existing processes. These developments are forming the community and developing the ecosystem at a natural pace that aims to enhance existing processes and encourage innovation in a sustainable manner.

Identity management in a mobile service orientated grid

Composite applications consisting of multiple mobile services require intricate service management and security infrastructures. Grid based approaches to service management can be applied to provide such infrastructures to both support and secure users and services in these composite mobile applications. The Akogrimo project has applied WSRF based Service Oriented toolkits as the core element of a mobile Service Oriented Infrastructure (SOI). Security is described in relation to the domains into which the SOI is split — Network Provider, Service Provider and two types of Virtual Organization. This paper describes how the Akogrimo SOI has been secured by an approach based on the management of identities within it. The results of this have been demonstrated initially in an E-Health scenario that is one of the first examples of a truly mobile Service Orientated Architecture.