This document describes a use case for a demo system called MoVA that helps manage networks for manufacturing. MoVA uses an ontology of domain keywords to model suppliers' assets and opportunities' requirements. A supplier may have multiple assets evaluated on cost, quality, and capacity. The system searches for single or clustered suppliers that match requirements by keywords in the ontology, considering the specified capabilities.

1. © DITF Denkendorf, 2015
MoVA – Demo System
Use Case: Networks for Manufacturing
June 2015
© DITF Denkendorf, Thomas Fischer
thomasvfischer@ditf-mr-denkendorf.de
1

2. © DITF Denkendorf, 2015 2
Use Case – Introduction
• Network management requires to find suppliers (single
companies or clusters of companies) able to manufacture
required goods, in the example automotive parts.
• A supplier may have more than one asset (production unit).
• The domain is modelled as an ontology of keywords. These
keywords are linked to the assets and are used to define
requirements.
• A tender or an opportunity may comprise a number of
requirements.

3. © DITF Denkendorf, 2015 3
System Objects
(required)
MoVA - Data Model of the Demo
Supplier
Asset
Domain Entity
Requirement
consists of
has keyword has keyword
Opportunity comprises
Facilitator Person
Role
manages
consists of
has

4. © DITF Denkendorf, 2015 4
Use Case – Ontology
• The ontology has two types of hierarchical relations between
domain keywords
– Parts: decomposition of a system in subsystem
– Work: decomposition of a system in processes
• Both relations have a numerical value [0, 1] representing the
importance or significance of a subsystem

5. © DITF Denkendorf, 2015 5
MoVA – Ontology Model
Exhaust System
MountingCatalyst
Catalytic
Converter
PipeTime
Management
Welding Bracket
Importance: 0,2
Type: work
Importance: 0,8
Type: parts

6. © DITF Denkendorf, 2015 6
Suppliers and Assets
• A supplier company may have various assets, i.e.
manufacturing units
• An asset is evaluated subjectively by the facilitator (network
manager) in terms of its capability:
– Cost: how pricy are the manufactured parts:
low – medium – high
– Quality: how good are the parts manufactured:
low – medium - high
– Capacity: how high is the capacity of the asset (delivery time):
low – medium – high

7. © DITF Denkendorf, 2015 7
Requirements and Search
• A requirement is a link to an domain keyword and represents
the need (e.g. a tender).
• The search for single suppliers or clusters of suppliers is based
on the ontology. Example: Either a supplier for Catalytic
Converters is found (level 0) or two suppliers, one for
catalysts, one doing the mounting (level 1)
• The search can be specified in terms of
the three capabilities
– Quality
– Cost
– Capacity
MountingCatalyst
Catalytic
Converter