Software tool for modelling mixed-actor manufacturing processes

A business process management system for the automated and discrete control of manufacturing processes with mixed actors is developed (see Technical Approach). HORSE distinguishes between developments in the design time environment for modelling the manufacturing processes and developments in the runtime environment for executing manufacturing processes. 1. Manufacturing process modelling environment: Mixed-actor manufacturing processes are modelled as business process types, specifying the end-to-end manufacturing process of a series of products. In this task, a conceptual modelling language is developed that includes model elements for the specific concepts of mixed-actor manufacturing processes, such as: • The specification of process variants that accommodate for product parameterization. • A role model that includes human, robotic and hybrid actors as abstract roles, which can be further specialized in different classes of factory workers, machines, and robots. • The specification of capabilities of actors and the constraints and rules on allocation of actors to tasks. • The definition of exception handling strategies and process changes to deal with unexpected events in the execution of manufacturing processes. The developed modelling language will be implemented in a prototype modelling tool. This implementation will be based on developments in the CROSSWORK project (see Positioning). 2. Manufacturing process execution environment: After the process types have been designed, a process execution environment is used for the automated, discrete control of mixed-actor manufacturing processes at runtime. In this task, such a process execution environment is developed by building on a contemporary process execution environment (industry strength technology) and extending it to support the specific characteristics of mixed-actor manufacturing processes, such as: • dynamic (re)assignments of actors to tasks, considering given constraints and possibilities; • the monitoring and management of tasks executions by actors (e.g. start, pause, resume, abort); • structured handling of exceptions, such as starting another process, rollback of activities, dynamically reassigning actors, or dynamically changing the process in case of e.g. safety warnings.