Showing papers on "Enterprise systems engineering published in 1998"

The Enterprise Ontology

Abstract: This is a comprehensive description of the Enterprise Ontology, a collection of terms and definitions relevant to business enterprises. We state its intended purposes, describe how we went about building it, define all the terms and describe our experiences in converting these into formal definitions. We then describe how we used the Enterprise Ontology and give an evaluation which compares the actual uses with original purposes. We conclude by summarising what we have learned. The Enterprise Ontology was developed within the Enterprise Project, a collaborative effort to provide a framework for enterprise modelling. The ontology was built to serve as a basis for this framework which includes methods and a computer tool set for enterprise modelling. We give an overview of the Enterprise Project, elaborate on the intended use of the ontology, and give a brief overview of the process we went through to build it. The scope of the Enterprise Ontology covers those core concepts required for the project, which will appeal to a wider audience. We present natural language definitions for all the terms, starting with the foundational concepts (e.g. entity, relationship, actor). These are used to define the main body of terms, which are divided into the following subject areas: activities, organisation, strategy and marketing. We review some of the things learned during the formalisation process of converting the natural language definitions into Ontolingua. We identify and propose solutions for what may be general problems occurring in the development of a wide range of ontologies in other domains. We then characterise in general terms the sorts of issues that will be faced when converting an informal ontology into a formal one. Finally, we describe our experiences in using the Enterprise Ontology. We compare these with the intended uses, noting our successes and failures. We conclude with an overall evaluation and summary of what we have learned.

Understanding Enterprise, Entrepreneurship and Small Business

Abstract: PREFACE - INTRODUCTION - THE CONCEPT OF ENTERPRISE - Why Talk about Enterprise? - What Does Enterprise Mean? - Enterprise in Individuals - The Culture of Enterprise - Other Aspects of Enterprise - ENTERPRISE AND THE SMALL BUSINESS - Small Business Categories and Variations - Distinctive Features of Small Businesses - Business Growth - Entrepreneurship - PROMOTING ENTERPRISE - Why Intervene? - Theories and Assumptions - Intervention Methods - Intervention Evaluation and Results - AFTERWORD - Science, Art or Magic?

System method and article of manufacture for integrated enterprise-wide control

Abstract: A system software solution for controlling an enterprise comprising one or more components for controlling one or more aspects of an industrial environment with code that creates a database of components, each of the components containing control, diagnostic and resource information pertaining to enterprise resources utilized in the industrial environment. The system also generates code that controls resources comprising cognitive and timing information that synchronizes events throughout the enterprise. The database of components includes code that updates the database to reflect changes in the enterprise and integrates the new design, simulation, implementation and maintenance changes to optimize the manufacturing enterprise utilizing the database of components.

A multi-agent system for enterprise integration

Abstract: The production management system used by most manufacturers today is comprised of disconnected planning and execution processes, and lacks the support for interoperability for enterprise wide integration. This situation often prevents the manufacturer from fully exploring market opportunities in a timely fashion. To address this problem, we propose an agent-based framework for intelligent enterprise integration. A set of agents with specialized expertise can be quickly assembled to help with the gathering of relevant information and knowledge, to cooperate with each other and with other management systems and human managers and analysts to arrive at timely decisions in dealing with various enterprise scenarios. The proposed multi-agent system, including its theoretical foundation, architecture, and implementation are presented. The work of this system is demonstrated through an integration scenario involving real management software systems.

The extended concept of co-operation

Abstract: This paper describes the idea of the extended enterprise, in which manufacturing companies co-operate closely to maximize the benefits of the business they are all involved in. The concept ofthe extended enterprise is explored, and itseffect on purchasing relationships is considered. Production planning considerations are dealt with and the extended enterprise is considered from the viewpoint of the supplier. Modelling and analysis of the extended enterprise in connection with process improvement is reviewed, and some questions that arise from the co-operative approach are presented. The paper concludes that the concept stems from supply chain management and the interest in integration across boundaries. The extended enterprise presents many challenges, but may be a new source of competitive advantage.

Component-Based Development for Enterprise Systems

Abstract: This ground-breaking book distills the experience of the author in dealing with problems in industry that can be solved by using the SELECT Perspective. A pragmatic component-based approach for the development of enterprise systems, the SELECT Perspective comprises a unique blend of techniques, architecture, and process. Enterprise software development presents challenges of sheer scale and complexity that continue to accelerate at a terrific pace. Businesses are becoming increasingly adaptive and are calling for software that is more and more flexible. Component technology holds the promise of solving these problems, but there are some complications. For example, many organizations continue to struggle with the challenge of integrating their legacy systems with the newer technology. The approach in this book offers a streamlined set of modeling techniques based on the Unified Modeling Language (UML); uses a serviced-based architecture that provides an overall design philosophy for reusable software that addresses the needs of the business, not the technology; and is a clearly defined software process that provides guidance on how to employ the knowledge base of available techniques.

Policies in communities: extending the ODP enterprise viewpoint

Abstract: The Reference Model of Open Distributed Processing (RM-ODP) introduces the notion of an enterprise viewpoint and provides a minimum set of concepts for structuring enterprise language specifications. This paper extends the RM-ODP enterprise concepts by exploring how policy can be modelled within and between communities. A model for enterprise behaviour based on physical and social actions is presented.

System and method for integrating enterprise management application with network management operations

Abstract: The invention is directed to an enterprise management integration tool for providing a centralized repository for storage and processing of information related to the execution of the enterprise management functions. This is accomplished through the use of a Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) and specific database schema that model the enterprise components and services being managed. The interface with this database will be in one of two preferred forms: (1) software bridges to specific management applications; (2) standardized Structured Query Language (SQL) to applications that support the use of SQL. The database-centric approach provides a framework for integration of myriad applications (software programs) based on the needs of the enterprise management personnel. It also provides mechanisms for distribution of management information between enterprise management sites to increase the robustness and fault resistance of the enterprise management system, support sharing of management responsibilities between enterprise management sites, and allow for distribution of management information to organizations and personnel indirectly associated with the enterprise management process (e.g., billing and finance, engineering, etc.).

Systems design engineering

Abstract: Design is the creative process by which our understanding of logic and science is joined with our understanding of human needs and wants to conceive and refine artifacts that serve specific human purposes. Design is central to the practice of systems engineering and systems engineers understand that design is a creative, iterative, decision-making process. In this paper, we provide an overview of design from the perspective of the systems engineer. We review the steps in the design process and consider the characteristic activities, techniques, and tools of systems engineering in terms of how these activities support the central mission of systems design. We briefly discuss some of the major influences on current design research. Of particular interest is the axiomatic theory of design developed from the perspective of manufacturing engineering, which ultimately leads to a set of design principles, rules, and practices which are embodied in Design for Manufacture (DFM). DFM is a systems approach to improving the competitiveness of a manufacturing enterprise by developing products that are easier, faster, and less expensive to make, while maintaining required standards of functionality, quality, and marketability. We review the systems engineering philosophy underlying DFM—and its broader interpretation as concurrent or simultaneous engineering, or integrated product development—and define some of the strategies, techniques, and tools currently used to implement this philosophy in industry. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Syst Eng 1: 285–302, 1998

Enterprise integration: Issues and methods

Abstract: The necessity of maintaining lean operations and becoming an 'agile enterprise', in which the speed and flexibility at which a company functions matches that of its technology, is widely accepted. Information technology is providing the means for companies to integrate better their internal and external activities. This level of integration is achieved through 'enterprisewide systems' that reflect the current operations and processes of the business and allow decision-makers to digest information more rapidly and accurately, and with more flexibility. The objective of this paper is to review some of the current literature concerning enterprise integration and to identify and discuss the main issues that need to be considered before attempting to establish enterprise-wide integration.

Virtual Enterprise and Corporate Memory.

Abstract: In Concurrent Engineering, several designers in different fields and from different enterprise collaborate to build a product. This organization is a temporal organizational structure, called virtual enterprise. In fact, once the project is realized, the virtual enterprise is dissolved, so the deal in such organization is to keep the volatile knowledge. In this paper, we propose a guide to elaborate a corporate memory in Concurrent Engineering by identifying the type of memory needed, the contents of memory according to its use during the Concurrent Engineering process.

Simulation software component architecture for simulation-based enterprise applications

Abstract: This paper examines trends and technologies leading towards simulation-based enterprise applications. Component, Internet and distributed technologies are presented as enablers of simulation-based enterprise applications. Examples are given of typical applications that can take advantage of distributed simulation components. The goal of this paper is to present a high level component architecture that will work in current enterprise information technology (IT) environments.

An Enterprise Decision Framework for Information System Selection

Abstract: A decision framework is essential for the selection of an enterprise information system. Learning to follow this framework provides assistance to organizations in identifying common challenges encountered by project teams when selecting and implementing enterprise information systems. By choosing the right team and partners and by choosing the right system and data design, companies substantially can increase the performance of their enterprise system.

High-Level Coordination of Business Processes in a Virtual Enterprise

Abstract: In a Virtual Enterprise scenario the management of the supply-chain is a complex task, especially when some degrees of flexibility are envisaged to be supported. This paper intends to show an approach to improve the quality of this management in order to avoid business chaos. More preciselly, it is introduced a set of specialized software modules named Advanced Coordination Functionalities (ACFs), which take end-user feedback into account to solve important problems during coordination actions within the VE scenario. The study of ACFs is motivated and required by the Prodnet-II ESPRIT project.

A value-seeking approach to the engineering of systems

Abstract: As an alternative to the prevalent "requirements-first" approach this paper introduces a value-seeking approach to the engineering of complex, adaptive systems. The value-seeking approach exercises three distinct viewpoints: a focus on the system to be created, a higher focus on system purpose, and an even higher focus on system value. Within this context a goal-seeking system archetype is proposed as an appropriate implementation method that converges on acceptable perceived value by overcoming inexplicability, encouraging dialog and enabling engineering.

An Integrated Enterprise Modeling Environment

Abstract: Increasingly complex systems have stimulated the development of sophisticated methods and tools for enterprise design and analysis. Advances in information technology as well as significant progress in analytical and computational techniques have facilitated the use of such methods in industry. However, enterprise modeling and analysis methods are yet to make a significant impact in the decision-making process of most companies and organizations. In this contribution, we provide a detailed analysis of some of the major roadblocks to a broader use of enterprise modeling methods in industry. We then describe an approach that addresses each of those roadblocks. Finally, we provide an overview of a commercial software environment that implements the approach, explaining the primary motivations for developing the software and describing its main features and characteristics.

Mobile agent technology in support of sales order processing in the virtual enterprise

Abstract: The flexible integration of a range of disparate IT applications is a key requirement for today’s global enterprises. The virtual enterprise, formed by a collection of collaborating companies for short term, high return, one off projects provides perhaps the most extreme example of this need. It is unlikely that any collaborators in a virtual enterprise will have similar networks or software, but the requirement exists for them to inter-operate.

A multi-view enterprise modeling scheme

Abstract: Efforts to improve enterprise performance depend to a large extent on models of enterprise processes created for analysis and design. This paper describes a modeling scheme which supports the development of a multi-view model of an enterprise and its processes. The paper first presents an overview of the efforts such as business process reengineering, enterprise integration, and enterprise engineering which make use of process models. The paper then presents the modeling scheme which uses the IDEF suite of modeling methods to build integrated business rule, activity, resource, business process, and organizational views of the enterprise. The scheme is built from a central IDEF5 model of the enterprise from which the other views are extracted.

Assessing the necessity of enterprise change: Pre‐feasibility and feasibility studies in enterprise integration

Abstract: The article presents a process model of the least formalized phase of enterprise change, in which management and all other interested parties identify a need for change, assess what change methodology is adequate to handle that change and make preparations for enacting that change process. This process is intended to be embedded in a complete enterprise engineering/ enterprise integration methodology. The aim has been to give a more detailed account of the first phase of enterprise integration, called the 'identification' phase of the enterprise life-cycle. A top level of the methodology's process is presented as a series of IDEF0 diagrams and their companion explanations, although future versions may be developed in more elaborate languages (e.g. CIMOSA modelling constructs). The original aim to develop this part of the methodology was for the method to be especially suitable for the service industry; it has been found that there was no need to be service industry specific on this level and that...

Toward systems ecology

Abstract: Can we adapt our understanding of bioecological systems to develop efficient, effective and sustainable man-made systems? It is perhaps not an overstatement to say that sustainable human development is unrealistic without major reliance on information technology. Yet, without a cohesive systems ecology to guide the use of information, how can we expect to manage today's complex systems? Whether they be man-made, human or organizational, systems based on a systems ecology could more quickly lead to knowledge and enterprise integration for the betterment of humankind.

Positioning the library at the epicenter of the networked biomedical enterprise

Abstract: The changing economic environment in which our biomedical enterprises operate presents unparalleled opportunities to the profession of medical librarianship Evidence-based medicine, patient empowerment, asynchronous learning networks, and research colaboratories each involve a new type of shared information, or access to information in new ways or by different people These tasks are ones with which librarianship is directly involved Librarians are therefore placed perfectly to provide new products and services To position the library at the epicenter of the networked biomedical enterprise we must meet three challenges: We must align the library's business strategy with that of the larger enterprise We must provide services in ways that will scale-up to enable new business strategies We must measure the effectiveness of services in ways that document their role in supporting the enterprise

The Needs and Issues Associated with Representing and Integrating Multiple Views of the Enterprise

Abstract: A critical component of any information infrastructure is a common understanding of the enterprise. Enterprise models enable this common understanding. The enterprise model can provide a comprehensive understanding of the environment the information infrastructure is designed to support. Models are typically developed from one of five perspectives or views. The different model views are presented and a comparison of these views is discussed. These five views are: business rule, activity, business process, resource, and organization views. The primary concern in this research is the identification of the issues of multiple views of an enterprise or system. Most project managers do not consider the issues pertaining to a multiple view model of a system. These managers develop and even maintain multiple types of models for different purposes. These multiple types of models are generally developed on an ad hoc basis. By understanding the issues relating to maintaining multiple views of an enterprise, the benefits of multiple views can be realized while minimizing its difficulties. Three approaches to integrating multiple views are explained and their relative shortcomings are discussed.

Composing enterprise models: the extended and the virtual enterprise

Abstract: This paper is a contribution to the semantics of the emerging discipline of enterprise engineering. We study the composition of models of individual enterprises into the model which represents the behaviour of an extended or a virtual enterprise. The former corresponds intuitively to the union of models: all activities taking place within and between individual enterprises. The latter to intersection: coordinated and shared activities which utilise the resources of all participating enterprises. Modelling adopts a unifying business perspective upon a firm (a discrete parts manufacturer), its structure (available resources) and behaviour (activities which utilise resources). Model composition is based on formal semantics. The result is a precise technical meaning for an extended and a virtual enterprise, suitable for symbolic execution, reasoning and foremost for understanding the difference between both concepts.

A top down and bottom manufacturing enterprise function view up approach to engineering using the

Abstract: In the contemporary global marketplace, manufacturing enterprises are increasingly required to be highly optimized. In order to re-engineer manufacturing systems to achieve this goal, enterprise engineering methods together with advanced support tools are required. In developing such methods it has often been suggested that a formal top down approach is difficult to map onto manufacturing resources, and that a bottom up approach will fail to accurately reflect the business needs of the enterprise. This paper describes and compares two enterprise engineering workbenches which are related, but take these two opposing approaches to system modelling: (1) A top down approach based on the CIM-OSA Reference Architecture which in its purest form prescribes that the modelling process begins with the identification of high level business goals, and; (2) A bottom up approach based on the creation of integrated systems through the coordination of manufacturing functional entities. The workbenches described primarily ...

Modelling business processes and enterprise activities at the knowledge level

Abstract: As manufacturing systems become more sophisticated and complicated, effective managers know how they play a crucial role in managing an enterprise and managers know how to deal with their dynamics and uncertainty. In this article, a formalism based on the computer-integrated manufacturing open-system architecture (CIMOSA) reference model is presented to specify the business processes and enterprise activities at the knowledge level. The formalism uses an integration of multiple types of knowledge, including precise, muddy, and random symbolic and numerical knowledge to systematically represent enterprise behavior and functionality. To support the modelling process, a prototype is developed and an example for a maintenance activity is presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Agent-based enterprise integration

Abstract: The authors are developing and deploying software agents in an enterprise information architecture such that the agents manage enterprise resources and facilitate user interaction with these resources. Their enterprise agents are built on top of a robust software architecture for data exchange and tool integration across heterogeneous hardware and software. The resulting distributed multi-agent system serves as a method of enhancing enterprises in the following ways: providing users with knowledge about enterprise resources and applications; accessing the dynamically changing enterprise; intelligently locating enterprise applications and services; and improving search capabilities for applications and data. Furthermore, agents can access non-agents (i.e., databases and tools) through the enterprise framework. The ultimate target of their effort is the user; they are attempting to increase user productivity in the enterprise. This paper describes their design and early implementation and discusses their planned future work.