Integrated modelling approach in support of change-capable PPC strategy realisation

The increasing demand for customization, reduced time to market and globalization are the real challenges fortoday’s manufacturing enterprises (MEs). Therefore MEs can reduce these competitive pressures by becoming moreand more change-capable. The agile and lean manufacturing philosophies must complement the application ofreconfiguration techniques. However, choosing and applying the best philosophies and techniques are far from beingwell understood and well structured processes because most MEs deploy complex and unique configurations ofprocesses and resource systems, and seek economies of scope and scale in respect of a number of distinctive productflows. It follows that systematic methods of achieving model driven reconfiguration and interoperation of componentbased manufacturing systems are required to design, engineer and change next generation MEs. This paper discussesresearch aimed at developing and prototyping a model-driven environment for the design, optimization and control ofenterprises with an embedded capability to handle various types of change in an example of a production planningand control (PPC) scenario. The developed environment supports the engineering of common types of strategic,tactical and operational process found in many MEs. Also reported are initial findings of manufacturing case studywork in which coherent multi-perspective models of a specific ME have facilitated process reengineering andassociated resource system configuration and interoperation. In order to understand the system prior to realisation ofany PPC strategy, multiple process segments of organisations need to be modelled. The paper considers key PPCstrategies and describes a novel systematic approach to create coherent sets of unified models that facilitate theengineering of PPC strategies. Case study models are presented with capability to enable PPC decision makingprocesses in support of complex organisation design and change (OD&C). The paper outlines key areas for futureresearch including the need for research into unified modelling approaches and interoperation of partial models insupport of complex OD&C.