Abstract: Managing knowledge means managing the processes of creation, development, distribution and utilisation of knowledge in order to improve organizational performance and increase competitive capacity. However, serious difficulties arise when attempts are made to implement knowledge management in enterprises. One of the reasons behind this situation is the lack of suitable methodologies for guiding the process of development and implementation of a knowledge management system (KMS), which is a computer system that allows the processes of creating, collecting, organising, accessing and using knowledge to be automated as far as possible. In this article we propose a methodology for directing the process of developing and implementing a knowledge management system in any type of organization. The methodology is organised in phases and outlines the activities to be performed, the techniques and supporting tools to be used, and the expected results for each phase. In addition, we show how the proposed methodology can be applied to the particular case of an enterprise.
Abstract: integration of information and manufacturing systems is one of the great achievements of Enterprise Modelling. However, new factors, such as the fast evolution of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) or the need to set up alliances among different types of enterprises quickly in order to benefit from market opportunities, are causing new types of problems, like interoperability, to appear in the Enterprise Modelling context. This paper shows how a model-driven approach can be useful to solve interoperability problems using model transformations. In particular, the transformation of GRAI Extended Actigrams into UML Activity Diagrams is explored using three different model transformation tools. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Abstract: UML has become the standard object-oriented language for modelling systems in the domain of Software Engineering. More and more relationships are being established between this domain and the Enterprise Modelling context, and the number of advantages of using UML as knowledge representation language is also growing. Some recent research works, such as the MDE approaches, suggests it would be interesting to provide concrete methods and mechanisms that facilitate the much-needed link between enterprise models and the requirements defined to develop the computer system. UML is a good candidate to connect these two levels, that is to say, the CIM level and the PIM level from an MDA perspective. In this paper, we present a Proposal for Enterprise Knowledge Modelling based on UML, which focuses on representing enterprise knowledge. This Proposal is developed at the CIM level and presents different models for capturing the software requirements of a Knowledge Management System at the CIM level. In particular, the metamodel concerning the goal dimension and the UML Profile implemented from it are shown. Finally, the resulting Goal Diagram is explained by means of an example.
Abstract: Knowledge representation is a multidisciplinary subject that needs to apply theories and techniques from logic, ontology and computation. There are a great number of languages able to represent knowledge, among them UML can be considered a suitable language for modelling knowledge. It could be included within the category of visual languages for knowledge representation. On the other hand, numerous efforts are being carried out in the context of Enterprise Modelling to improve the capacity of enterprise models for externalising enterprise knowledge. The Proposal presented in this paper combines both approaches, UML and Enterprise Modelling, in order to make possible Enterprise Knowledge Modelling using UML. It shows a summary of this Proposal describing its principles, the main steps of its development and an example of one of the UML Profiles implemented with the objective of modelling knowledge.
Abstract: One of the main weaknesses of Enterprise Modeling is the difficulty involved in generating software from enterprise models. In this context, a model-driven approach can be useful to improve this shortcoming by transforming these models at different levels of abstraction down to achieve the generation of code. The main advantage of this kind of approach is that it attempts to automate this transformation process as much as possible. However, interoperability problems arise in networked enterprises when they attempt to apply them, and the main obstacles to achieving the objective appear at a conceptual level. In this paper, we present a general proposal, called Model Driven Interoperability (MDI), for transforming models at different levels of abstraction focused on interoperability issues. At a conceptual level, this proposal provides a method for transforming GRAI Models into UML models, as a first step to achieving interoperability following a model-driven approach. The paper also describes a practical example of transforming a GRAI Extended Actigram into a UML Activity Diagram using a software tool in order to show its feasibility.
Abstract: Managing modularity and commonality in product development more and more needs modularity and commonality in the production process, with the objectives of reducing manufacturing costs, time to market and improving quality. A critical issue is the way of managing data, information and knowledge: data most of the time structured according to data models, often using proprietary formats, leading to consistency problems for the exchanges. The use of international standards is a good way of improving quality of the information systems used in production management, since they facilitate interoperability of the software tools used. They also contdbute to the integration of the production process in a product life cycle management-based approach. This study presents the ISO 15531 MANDATE standard for the exchanges of industrial manufacturing management data. In terms of industrial maturity, MANDATE is a new standard, whose development is based on research work done by the authors and whose parts have not reached the IS status (necessary for sake of stability) at the same time. For this reason, the different models proposed by the standard have not been implemented altogether at the same time. Indeed numerous standards do exist in the domain of production information management, however the information models proposed are not always compatible in between them, the vocabulary used is not defined in the same way even though the terms used are the same: ontology-based approaches are sometimes necessary to find the common 'essence' of the information handled, but they can be integrated in software interfaces, thus making easier to convey a higher level of semantics in the exchanges. This study presents one of those approaches, defined in the INTEROP NoE EC funded project.
Abstract: Enterprises today face many challenges related to lack of interoperability. Enterprise applications and software systems need to be interoperable in order to achieve seamless business across organisational boundaries and thus achieve virtual networked organisations. In this paper, we briefly introduce some key principles of the MDA approach and the role of ontologies in model transformation approaches. Then, we propose a description of the Model Driven Development (MDD) Interoperability Framework. The last part presents a way of applying the MDA techniques to Urban Civil Engineering projects, with the objective of testing the feasibility and relevancy of the approach to this domain.
Abstract: Enterprise Modelling, in general, and Business Process Modelling, in particular, have been used for decades for different purposes and with interesting results. However, a variety of problems can be identified in this context and many enterprises find it difficult to leverage the full potential and benefits of these technologies. One of the most important problems in this sense is the lack of interoperability among enterprises at the modelling level. Quite a lot of efforts has been carried out in this domain to improve enterprise interoperability at this level. The development of the POP* meta-model is one of these initiatives, which aim to establish a meta-model and a corresponding methodology that enable enterprises to exchange their enterprise models, despite the fact that they use different Enterprise Modelling Tools. In this paper, we present a 'proof of concept' of the POP* meta-model focused on the process dimension, which is expected to further our understanding of how this meta-model can be used to exchange different business process models among the partners in networks of collaborative enterprises. Moreover, the work performed in this 'proof of concept' has been a valuable aid to validate and improve the development of the POP* meta-model.
Abstract: Virtual Enterprises have become a good organisational solution to cope with the current economic environment. A number of methodologies have been developed to Assist in the creation and management of a Virtual Enterprise, using Enterprise Modelling as a useful way to enhance its performance. However, it is necessary to develop new mechanisms and methodologies to improve the interoperability and to synchronise changes among different inter-enterprise models. In this paper, we present a definition of a set of requirements needed to synchronise enterprise models in order to improve Virtual Enterprise interoperability. The work is based on previous projects dealing with interoperability and Enterprise Modelling, like UEML or INTEROP. The requirements described in this paper were selected and analysed with the aim of adapting them to the necessities of the synchronisation of enterprise models in a Virtual Enterprise.
Abstract: A performance measurement system is a decision support system that through a set of indicators allows an analysis of the current state of an enterprise and comparison with the strategic objectives. It is therefore a fundamental tool for management control in business.
Abstract: The introduction of an EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) system in a particular sector is a complex problem involving different organisational, technological and human aspects. Formal systematic methodologies must be used to resolve these problems and facilitate the implementation of new EDI systems. However, the literature offers no examples of this type of methodology. Therefore, in this paper we present a methodology that describes the activities and techniques required to develop (1) a sectoral profile for EDI messages under internationally accepted standards and (2) a set of guidelines for implementation that helps EDI to be incorporated in a quick and simple manner. The methodology was developed from the experience acquired in the course of different EDI implementation projects carried out in different sectors. In order to illustrate how the process works, in this paper we have used a case study in which our methodology was put into practise to develop an EDI standard for enterprises in the tile sector.
Abstract: A virtual enterprise (VE) can be considered a temporary alliance between enterprises located in different parts of the world that intervene in the diverse phases of the life cycle of a product or service, and work to share skills, resources and costs. However, designing and managing an efficient and integrated virtual enterprise that presents the semblance of a single enterprise to customers is a very complex task. To support this, new methods enabling the integration of virtual enterprises must be developed and their use must be popularised through examples and application experiences. This paper reports the practical results of the Virtual Integration of the Tile Industry (VITI) research project. This is primarily a systematic methodology, a set of models with the best work practices and a set of software applications for business integration adapted to the particularities of virtual enterprises. The collection of data and the validation and application of the results was made possible thanks to the collaboration of one of the leading virtual tile enterprises.
Abstract: Virtual enterprise integration is the task of improving the performance of a temporary alliance of globally distributed independent enterprises that participate in the different phases of the life cycle of a product or service by efficiently managing the interactions among the participants. This is a very complex task that involves different approaches regarding technology, management and cultural elements. There are different proposals for enterprise integration (usually called Reference Architectures) that have been very useful in applications for a single-enterprise. However, they need to be adapted to support the new requirements that appear in virtual enterprise integration. This paper shows the modifications applied to ARDIN (Spanish acronym of Reference Architecture for INtegrated Development) to help in the design and management of an efficient and flexible virtual enterprise. The modifications are synthesized in a methodology, a set of reference models of best business practices, and in the design of a technological infrastructure. (C) 2002 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Abstract: The dynamic and competitive enterprise environment requires enterprises to ensure the highest profit from their resources, integrating them to work together in obtaining the enterprises objectives. The project of design and implementation of an Integrating Enterprise System, is an extremely complex project that involves different technological, human and organisational elements. For this purpose several different reference architectures (RA) have been proposed. However, this area of research is not yet totally satisfactory because these methods may still be improved. It is necessary to adapt the different techniques to the concrete needs of each type of enterprise activity. In addition, new methods enabling the integration of several enterprises (called virtual enterprises) must be developed and their use must be popularized through examples and application experiences. This paper shows the results of the research project in RA for enterprise integration of the IRIS group from the University Jaume I of Castellon. Mainly, it is a framework consisting of a step by step methodology, reference models and a set of supporting tools, which will allow the creation of an Integrated Enterprise. Some of the results obtained from the applications in different enterprises are also shown. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.
