Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A model-driven approach to enabling change capability in SMEs

  • ORIGINAL ARTICLE
  • Published:
The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

To sustain competitive performance in dynamic business, technical, economic and social environments, change capability is an essential characteristic property of any small- to medium-sized enterprise (SME). It follows that the business, engineering and production systems deployed by SMEs must be transformable, reconfigurable and interoperable. Likewise the models we deploy to engineer, change and operate SME systems must themselves be transformable, reconfigurable and interoperable. This paper reports on the application of new modelling concepts and modelling methods that are designed to facilitate change capability in SMEs. ‘Role’ and ‘resource’ modelling concepts are used in complementary forms to describe the ‘how’ and ‘who’ of SME systems in such ways that inherent complexities and change requirements can be faced by managers and engineers responsible for the life cycle engineering of SMEs. With respect to ‘role’ modelling the paper describes how an extension of standard enterprise modelling techniques can enable the decomposition and formal multi-level of abstraction description of sets of process-oriented roles; such as those required in any specific SME case to realise changing products and services for customers. Regarding resource modelling the paper describes how the ‘Dynamic Producer Unit’ (DPU) concept enables decomposition and multi-level of abstraction description of people, machine and IT system elements in a coherent manner. The paper goes on to describe a novel method of applying ‘role’ and ‘DPU’ concepts. This novel method takes the form of an ‘Integrated Production Control Modelling Approach’ and a support ‘Simulator’. By being based upon ‘role’ and ‘DPU’ modelling concepts the ‘coherent and flexibly integrated’ use of static enterprise models, causal loop models, simulation models and workflow models is facilitated. Finally, the paper exemplifies the use of the IPCMA and IPCMS with reference to the changing requirements and systems of an SME making many types of furniture product with a common set of resources.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Sullivan WG, McDonald TN, Aken EMV (2002) Equipment replacement decisions and lean manufacturing. Robot Comput Integr Manuf 18(3–4):255–265

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Kusiak A, He DW (1998) Design for agility: a scheduling perspective. Robot Comput Integr Manuf 14(5):415–427

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Masood T, Weston RH (2008) An integrated model driven approach in support of next generation reconfigurable manufacturing systems. In: Pham DT, Eldukhri EE, Soroka AJ (eds) 4th Virtual International Conference on Intelligent Production Machines and Systems (I*PROMS), The Internet (organised by Cardiff University), UK, July 1–14 2008. Whittles Publishing, Caithness, Scotland, pp 361–366

  4. Backhouse CJ, Burns ND (1999) Agile value chains for manufacturing—implications for performance measures. Int J Agil Manag Syst 1(2):76–82

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. ElMaraghy HA (2009) Changeable and reconfigurable manufacturing systems. Springer series in advanced manufacturing. Springer, London

    Book  Google Scholar 

  6. Weston RH (2012) Model driven integrated decision making in manufacturing enterprises. Adv Decis Sci 2012:1–29

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Land MJ, Gaalman GJC (2009) Production planning and control in SMEs: time for change. Prod Plan Control 20:548–558

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Zhen M, Masood T, Rahimifard A, Weston R (2009) A structured modelling approach to simulating dynamic behaviours in complex organisations. Prod Plan Control 20(6):496–509

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Masood T, Weston RH (2012) Modelling framework to support decision making in manufacturing enterprises. Adv Decis Sci 2012:43

    Google Scholar 

  10. ESPRIT Consortium AMICE (1993) CIMOSA: open system architecture for CIM, vol 1, 2nd edn. Springer, Berlin

    Book  Google Scholar 

  11. Vernadat FB (1996) Enterprise modelling and integration: principles and applications, 1st edn. Chapman & Hall, London

    Google Scholar 

  12. Chen D, Doumeingts G (1996) The GRAI-GIM reference model, architecture and methodology. In: Bernus P, Nemes L, Williams TJ (eds) Architecture for enterprise integration, 1st edn. Chapman & Hall on behalf of IFIP and IFAC, London, pp 103–126

    Google Scholar 

  13. Mayer RJ, Painter M, DeWitte P (1992) IDEF family of methods for concurrent engineering and business re-engineering applications. Knowledge Based Systems, Inc.

  14. Mayer R (1991) Holistic design, engineering, and manufacture. Texas A&M University, College Station

    Google Scholar 

  15. Mayer RJ (1992) IDEF0 function modeling—a reconstruction of the original report. Knowledge-Based Systems, Inc.

  16. Mayer RJ, Cullinane TP, deWitte PS, Knappenberger WB, Wells MS (1992) Information Integration For Concurrent Engineering (IICE)—IDEF3 process description capture method report. Knowledge Based Systems, Inc.

  17. Mayer RJ, Keen A, Wells MS (1992) Information Integration for Concurrent Engineering (IICE)—IDEF4 object-oriented design method report. Knowledge Based Systems, Inc.

  18. Williams TJ (1996) An overview of PERA and the Purdue methodology. In: Bernus P, Nemes L, Williams TJ (eds) Architecture for enterprise integration, 1st edn. Chapman & Hall on behalf of IFIP and IFAC, London, pp 127–161

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  19. Bernus P, Nemes L (1996) A framework to define a generic enterprise reference architecture and methodology. Comput Integr Manuf Syst 9(3):179–191

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. IFIP–IFAC Task Force (1999) GERAM—Generalised enterprise reference architecture and methodology. IFIP–IFAC Task Force on Architecture for Enterprise Integration, Version 1.6.3

  21. Monfared RP (2000) A component-based approach to design and construction of change capable manufacturing cell control systems. PhD Thesis, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK

  22. Chatha KA (2004) Multi-process modelling approach to complex organisation design. Loughborough University, Loughborough

    Google Scholar 

  23. Weston RH, Zhen A, Rahimifard A, Ajaefobi JO, Ding C, Wahid B, Guerrero A, Masood T (2006) Simulation model interoperability in support of complex organisation design and change. Paper presented at the European Simulation and Modelling (ESM) Conference, Toulouse, France, October 23–25, 2006

  24. Weston RH, Zhen M, Ajaefobi JO, Rahimifard A, Guerrero A, Masood T, Wahid B, Ding C (2007) Simulating dynamic behaviours in manufacturing organisations. Paper presented at the International Conference on Industrial Engineering & Systems Management (IESM 2007), Beijing, China, May 30–June 2, 2007

  25. Weston RH, Chatha KA, Ajaefobi JO (2004) Process thinking in support of system specification and selection. Adv Eng Inform 18(4):217–229

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Rahimifard A, Weston RH (2007) The enhanced use of enterprise and simulation modelling techniques to support factory changeability. Int J Comput Integr Manuf 20(4):307–328

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Masood T, Rahimifard A, Weston RH (2007) A computer executable modelling approach to engineering production planning and control systems in dynamic manufacturing organisations. In: 4th International Conference on Responsive Manufacturing (ICRM 2007), Nottingham, September 17–19 2007

  28. Masood T, Weston RH (2008) Integrated modelling approach in support of change-capable PPC strategy realisation. In: Pham DT, Eldukhri EE, Soroka AJ (eds) 4th Virtual International Conference on Intelligent Production Machines and Systems (I*PROMS), The Internet (organised by Cardiff University), UK, July 1–14 2008. Whittles Publishing, Caithness, Scotland, pp 222–227

  29. Masood T, Weston R, Rahimifard A (2010) A computer integrated unified modelling approach to responsive manufacturing. Int J Ind Syst Eng 5(3):287–312

    Google Scholar 

  30. Masood T, Weston R (2011) An integrated modelling approach in support of next generation reconfigurable manufacturing systems. Int J Comput Aided Eng Technol 3(3–4):372–398

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Kim CH, Yim D-S, Weston RH (2001) An integrated use of IDEF0, IDEF3, and Petri net methods in support of business process modelling. Proc Inst Mech Eng E J Process Mech Eng 215(4):317–329

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Dong M, Chen FF (2005) Petri net-based workflow modelling and analysis of the integrated manufacturing business processes. Int J Adv Manuf Technol 26(9–10):1163–1172

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Rahimifard A, Weston RH (2009) A resource-based modelling approach to support responsive manufacturing systems. Int J Adv Manuf Technol 45:1197–1214

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Weston RH, Zhen M, Rahimifard A, Ajaefobi JO, Ding C, Guerrero A, Wahid B, Masood T (2006) Simulation model interoperability in support of complex organisation design and change. In: European Simulation and Modelling (ESM) Conference, Toulouse, France, October 23–25.

  35. Weston RH, Rahimifard A, Ajaefobi JO, Cui Z (2009) On modelling reusable components of change capable manufacturing systems. Proc Inst Mech Eng B J Eng Manuf 223(3):313–336

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Ding C, Weston R (2007) Role based modelling approach to designing multi-product systems. In: Second IEEE Conference on Industrial Electronics and Applications (ICIE 2007), Harbin, China, 23–25 May 2007. pp 1706–1711

  37. Didic MM (1993) Voice. Synergy in design and integration. IEEE Softw 10(6):45–47

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Wilson M, Aguiar C, Edwards JM (1999) Achieving manufacturing business integration through the combined formalism of CIMOSA and Petri nets. Int J Prod Res 37(8):1767–1786

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  39. Sternemann KH, Didic MM, Hofer H (1999) Simulation of a torque converter production considering quality attributes. Comput Ind 40(2):259–265

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Dong M, Chen FF (2001) Process modeling and analysis of manufacturing supply chain networks using object-oriented Petri nets. Robot Comput Integr Manuf 17(1–2):121–129

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Cheng K, Popov Y (2004) Internet-enabled modelling of extended manufacturing enterprises using process-based techniques. Int J Adv Manuf Technol 23(1–2):148–153

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Derks WWC, Weston RH (2005) A model of exceptions in sales-order-processing workflows. Proc Inst Mech Eng B J Eng Manuf 219(2):209–228

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Wong KS, Parkin RM, Coy J (2007) Integration of the CIMOSA and high-level coloured Petri net modelling techniques with application in the postal process using hierarchical dispatching rules. Proc Inst Mech Eng B J Eng Manuf 221(5):775–786

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Ding C (2010) Role based modelling in support of configurable manufacturing system design. PhD, Loughborough University, Loughborough

  45. Didic M (1994) CIMOSA model creation and execution for a casting process and a manufacturing cell. Comput Ind 24(2–3):237–247

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Didic MM, Couffin F, Holler E, Lamperiere S, Neuscheler F, Rogier J, deVries M (1995) Open engineering and operational environment for CIMOSA. Comput Ind 27(2):167–178

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Masood T (2009) Enhanced integrated modelling approach to reconfiguring manufacturing enterprises. PhD, Loughborough University, Loughborough

  48. Monfared RP (2009) Enterprise modelling: a component-based approach to design and construction of change capable manufacturing cell control systems, vol 1st ed. VDM Verlag, Saarbrücken

    Google Scholar 

  49. VON++ (2011) Visual Object Net ++. VON++. http://www.systemtechnik.tu-ilmenau.de/~drath/visual_E.htm. Accessed 11 December 2011

  50. Monfared RP, West AA, Vera DA, Conway PP (2008) Evaluating a new flexible soldering system for electronics small and medium enterprises. Proc Inst Mech Eng B J Eng Manuf 222(2):273–283

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. Robinson S (1997) Simulation model verification and validation: increasing the users’ confidence. In Atlanta, GA. Winter Simulation Conference Proceedings. IEEE, pp 53–59

  52. Sargent RG (2005) Verification and validation of simulation models. In Winter Simulation Conference, Orlando, FL. Proceedings—Winter Simulation Conference. IEEE, pp 130–143

  53. Sargent RG (2007) Verification and validation of simulation models. In 39th Winter Simulation Conference, Washington, DC. Proceedings—Winter Simulation Conference. IEEE, pp 124–137

  54. Wahid BM, Ajaefobi JO, Agyapong-Kodua K, Masood T, Weston RH (2008) Enterprise modelling in support of methods based engineering: lean implementation in an SME bearing manufacturer. Paper presented at the International Conference on Manufacturing Research (ICMR), Brunel University, UK, September 9–11, 2008

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Manufacturing, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB3 0FS, UK

    Tariq Masood

  2. Manufacturing and Materials Department, School of Applied Sciences, Cranfield University, Cranfield, Bedfordshire, MK43 0AL, UK

    Richard Weston

  3. Wolfson School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough, LE11 3TU, UK

    Aysin Rahimifard

Authors
  1. Tariq Masood
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Richard Weston
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Aysin Rahimifard
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tariq Masood.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Masood, T., Weston, R. & Rahimifard, A. A model-driven approach to enabling change capability in SMEs. Int J Adv Manuf Technol 69, 805–821 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-013-4853-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-013-4853-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation