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Towards an Architecture for Virtual Enterprises
L.M. Camarinha-Matos, H. Afsarmanesh, C. Garita, C. Lima
2nd World Congress on Intelligent Manufacturing Processes & Systems, Budapest, June 1997
Keynote paper - Selected for reprint in Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing
Abstract
This paper presents an approach to the design of an architecture for industrial virtual enterprises (VE), with special
emphasis on the identification of main functional requirements. First, a discussion of the various types of virtual enterprises
is provided. Some classification scenarios and discussions of the modeling and reengineering tools and methodologies are
described. Due to the importance of the information flows and management in the VE, one chapter is merely devoted to
the analysis of the appropriateness of a federated information management approach. This work is based on and represents
the on going activities in two European Union funded projects; the Esprit Prodnet II and the INCO-DC SCM+ projects.
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Federated Information Management for Cooperative Virtual Organizations
H. Afsarmanesh (UVA), L.M. Camarinha-Matos (UNL)
Proceedings of DEXA’97 - Int. Conf. On Data Bases and Expert Systems Applications (Lecture Notes in Computer Science, Springer-Verlag), Toulouse, Sep 97.
Abstract
A new emerging area of research and technological development, set forward by the requirements of
today's progressive industries is the paradigm of virtual organizations. A virtual organization,
is primarily an interoperable network of pre-existing enterprises with a common goal, where the
enterprises can together function as a single real organization. This paradigm has the potential
of representing the basic architecture needed in many multifaceted application domains. Early
analysis of virtual organizations and their potential member organizations (nodes), identify a
large number of main characteristics, and certain functional and information management requirements
in this environment. Although the advanced Information Technology provides the necessary basic
tools to support virtual organizations, there are many unresolved issues involved in the development
of such cooperative architecture and system. This paper addresses many difficult issues in virtual
organizations domain, but it mainly focuses on the management of information in this paradigm. Both
the reference model for virtual organization's requirement specification, and the federated information
management architecture that we claim to be essential for design of a system to support this paradigm,
are the novel features presented in this paper.
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A platform to support production planning and management in a virtual enterprise
L.M. Camarinha-Matos (UNL)
Proceedings of CAPE’97- IFIP/SME Int. Conference on Computer Applications in Production and Engineering (Chapman & Hall), Detroit, USA, Nov 97.
Abstract
The materialization of the paradigm of virtual enterprise, although enabled by recent developments
in communication technologies and computer networks, requires the definition of a reference architecture
and the design and development of a supporting platform and appropriate protocols and mechanisms.
This paper describes the approach being developed by the European Esprit project PRODNET, which aims
at designing and developing an open platform to support industrial virtual enterprises with special
focus on the needs of small and medium enterprises.
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Mobile-agent based supervision in supply chain management in the food industry
R. Rabelo (UFSC), M. Spinosa (UFSC)
Proceedings of Agrosoft’97 - Workshop on supply chain management in agribusiness, Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Sep 97.
Abstract
The guarantee of reliable and in time information about the suppliers in a supply-chain is one of the
most important aspects to be faced in a virtual enterprise scenario. This paper presents a mobile-agent-based
approach as a support for that, allowing the supply-chain supervision. In this approach a virtual enterprise
is seen as a network of "agentified" enterprises, which means each one has some intelligence, autonomy,
privacy and capacity to interact with the other nodes. This work has been developed in the scope of two
European-Latinamerican projects (Prodnet-II and SCM+). In the intended approach, once a virtual enterprise
in established, intelligent mobile agents are instructed about a "mission" to be executed and sent to the
suppliers' site in order to supervise and collect information previously agreed with the client-enterprise.
With an efficient supervision the enterprises can improve their logistics and their tactile and operational
plans as well.
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The PRODNET platform for production planning and management in virtual enterprises
L.M. Camarinha-Matos (UNL), C.P. Lima (UNL), L. Osorio (ESTEC)
Proceedings of ICE’97- Int. Conf. On Concurrent Enterprising, Nottingham, UK, Oct 97.
Abstract
The concept of virtual enterprise, as a temporary alliance of enterprises that come together to share
skills and resources in order to better respond to business opportunities and whose cooperation is
supported by computer networks, challenges the way industrial production systems are planned and managed.
The materialization of this paradigm, although enabled by recent developments in communication technologies
and computer networks, requires the definition of a reference architecture and the design and
development of a supporting platform and appropriate protocols and mechanisms. This paper describes
the current approach being developed by the Esprit project PRODNET II, which aims to design and
develop an open platform to support industrial virtual enterprises with special focus on the needs
of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). One of the main components of this platform is the Cooperation
Layer that contains all functionalities and support information for the interconnection between a
company and its partners in the virtual enterprise. A detailed description of this system is presented,
including the management of interactions based on standardized information (EDI, STEP), workflow management,
communications infrastructure and safety aspects. The re-engineering needs for a PPC system to be integrated
in this environment are also discussed. Finally some advanced coordination functionalities are proposed.
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Management of distributed information in virtual enterprises - the PRODNET approach
H. Afsarmanesh (UVA), C. Garita (UVA), B. Hertzberger (UVA), V. Santos Silva (CSIN)
Proceedings of ICE’97- Int. Conf. On Concurrent Enterprising, Nottingham, UK, Oct 97.
Abstract
A virtual enterprise (VE) is primarily an interoperable network of pre-existing enterprises with a
common goal, that can function as a single real organization. Due to the wide range of characteristics
describing the VE paradigm, mainly stemmed from the heterogeneity and autonomy of the pre-existing
nodes and their potential loose- and tight- couplings, a challenging set of information management
and functional requirements are set forward. Many important VE requirements are addressed and supported
by the system developed in the ESPRIT project PRODNET II. A summary description of the PRODNET platform
is provided in this paper. However, the focus of this paper is the VE information management requirements
and the necessary architecture and support environment for efficient information sharing among its
enterprises. Although otherwise competitive, enterprises involved in a VE need to exchange a part of
their information in order to support the VE functions. At the same time, an enterprise may be involved
in several VEs. Therefore, the security of shared data and provision of multi-level access rights,
based on the role of different enterprises in a VE, is a strong necessity. In earlier papers [Afsarmanesh97]
and [Camarinha97], some VE scenarios were studied and their main requirements were identified. Furthermore,
a reference model for virtual organization’s requirement specification was described, and the suitability
of the federated architecture in supporting the VE paradigm was discussed. In this paper, the on going
design of the federated information management architecture of PRODNET system is described. Although
an object-oriented database system and language are more appropriate for implementation of the complexities
in a cooperative architecture, the ORACLE and SQL are chosen as the base database system and query/update
language, due to the configuration of SMEs as the potential target enterprises for PRODNET. The novel
features presented in this paper, that we claim to be essential for design of the information management
module in the PRODNET system, are its tailored federated architecture, the query processing, and the
view hierarchy and visibility levels for access and retrieval of data among the VE enterprises.
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Virtual Enterprises: Life cycle supporting tools and technologies
L.M. Camarinha-Matos (UNL), H. Afsarmanesh (UVA)
to appear in Handbook of Life Cycle Engineering: Concepts, Tools and Techniques, A. Molina, J. Sanchez, A. Kusiak (Eds.),, Chapman and Hall, 1997
Abstract
The concept of Virtual Enterprise (VE) challenges the way industrial production systems are planned
and managed. Basically, a VE is a temporary alliance of enterprises that come together to share
skills and resources in order to better respond to business opportunities and whose cooperation is
supported by computer networks. To support this new paradigm multifaceted research directions need
to be applied, whose requirements and partial results are presented in this paper. Namely, a full
understanding of the processes of interaction between companies, the design and implementation of
open support platforms, the re-engineering of activities for a networked operation, and the
implantation methodologies that follow not only the technical but also the socio-organizational
aspects, represent major such areas. Furthermore, the main requirements for a VE supporting
platform, taking into account the various classes of VEs, are discussed. Several component
technologies that can contribute to the required VE support environment are identified, mainly
focused on the mechanisms and approaches developed by the European Esprit PRODNET II project.
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A Framework for Cooperation in Virtual Enterprises
L.M. Camarinha-Matos (UNL), C.P. Lima (UNL)
Proceedings of DIISM'98 - Design of Information Infrastructures Systems for Manufacturing 1998,
Fort Worth, USA, May 98.
Abstract
The concept of virtual enterprise challenges the way industrial production systems are planned and
managed. The materialization of this paradigm, although enabled by recent developments in communication
technologies, computer networks, and cooperative systems still requires a full understanding of the
processes of interaction between companies as well as the design and implementation of open support
platforms. The reengineering of activities for a networked operation and the implantation methodologies
considering not only the technical but also the socio-organizational aspects must be also taken into
account. This paper describes the current approach being developed by the Esprit project PRODNET II,
which aims to design and develop an open platform to support industrial virtual enterprises with special
focus on the needs of small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
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Cooperative Systems Challenges in Virtual Enterprises
L.M. Camarinha-Matos (UNL), H. Afsarmanesh (UVA)
In proceedings of the 2nd IMACS International Multiconference on Computational Engineering in
Systems Applications (in CD), CESA'98, Nabeul-Hammamet, Tunisia, April 1998.
Abstract
This paper discusses implementation approaches to industrial Virtual Enterprises (VE) considered as
Cooperative Systems. The main types of cooperation problems are identified for the various kinds of
virtual enterprises. Component technologies to be used in the development of a cooperation platform
are discussed. The PRODNET architecture for a VE infrastructure is summarized and the information
sharing and management requirements identified. Finally a list of the major challenges in
developing a cooperation environment for VEs is presented.
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Virtual Enterprises and Federated Information Sharing
H. Afsarmanesh, C. Garita, L.O. Hertzberger (UVA)
In proceedings of the 9th IEEE International Conference on Database and Expert Systems Applications, DEXA'98, Lecture
Notes in Computer Science, Vienna, Austria, August 1998, pp. 374-383.
Abstract
In general, a Virtual Enterprise (VE) is an interoperable network of pre-existing enterprises with
a common goal, where the enterprises can function together as a single organization. With the
objective of developing a reference architecture and a support infrastructure for VEs, the Esprit
project PRODNET II (Production Planning and Management in an Extended Enterprise) is conceived.
In the PRODNET architecture, the Distributed Information Management System (DIMS) component supports
the VE information management requirements and provides a framework to exchange and cooperatively
manage data between VE-member enterprises, while preserving the autonomy of individual enterprises.
The DIMS design is based on an object-oriented federated/distributed information management
architecture, specifically tailored for the VE paradigm. The focus of this paper is on describing
the design of the federated architecture of the DIMS component.
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Workflow Support for Management of Information in PRODNET II
H. Afsarmanesh, C. Garita(UVA) L.M. Camarinha-Matos, C. Lima(UNL)
In proceedings of the 5th International Workshop on Intelligent Manufacturing Systems, IMS'98,
Gramado, Brasil, November 1998, pp. 49-54.
Abstract
In the context of the current aggressive commercialization and globalization trends, the paradigm
of Virtual Enterprises (VEs) represents a potential solution for the companies to come together and
form enterprise networks and mutual alliances. Consequently, new production and manufacturing
possibilities emerge, where costs, skills, and resources are shared within the VE network, and the
comparative advantages and expertise levels of every enterprise are better exploited. This paper
describes the application of workflow management technology together with an advanced distributed
information management system, in assisting different tasks related to the internal management of
information in the ESPRIT project PRODNET II.
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Flexible Coordination in Virtual Enterprises
L.M. Camarinha-Matos (UNL), H. Afsarmanesh (UVA)
In proceedings of the 5th International Workshop on Intelligent Manufacturing Systems, IMS'98,
Gramado, Brasil, November 1998, pp. 43-48.
Abstract
Flexible coordination is a major aspect in the development of open support infrastructures for
Industrial Virtual Enterprises (VE). The coordination issues in VEs in the context of Small and
Medium size Enterprises and the need for very flexible and easily configurable solutions are
discussed. The approaches and the hierarchical coordination infrastructure being partly developed
by and applied to the Esprit PRODNET II project is presented. The combination of a workflow
management approach for coordination with a distributed / federated database management system is
introduced as the coordination kernel, and some implementation results presented.
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Towards an Open Platform for Supply Chain Management in the Agribusiness Sector
L. M. Spinosa, A. P. Klen, R. J. Rabelo, L. M. Camarinha-Matos, A. C. Ferreira(UFSC)
presented in Workshop Internacional em Tecnologia da Informacao e Gerenciamento de Cadeias Produtivas no Agrobusiness, Campinas-SP,
Brazil, 10-11 September 1998. Revista Brasileira de Agroinformatica, Vol 1 N 1, pp. 28-40, 1998.
Abstract
This paper proposes the AGRO-VI@ project (Gerenciamento do Agronegócio via Internet - Agribusiness
Management via Internet), which aims to design and develop an open platform and adequate information
technologies tools, protocols and mechanisms to support virtual enterprise concept in agribusiness.
The project focuses on the supply-chains of the food industry in order to provide them with means to
inter-operate with several value chain networks. AGRO-VI@ is engaged in provide Information
Technology endowing small and medium-sized enterprises with a real an innovative solution to improve
their competitiveness. Through AGRO-VI@ the enterprises can have an opportunity to run their business
better, faster and more cost effective than their competition delivering the responsiveness and
flexibility needed to survive and succeed in an ever-expanding global society. AGRO-VI@ is based
on SCM + project (Beyond Supply Chain Management in the Food industry - INCO-DC project) and, mainly,
on PRODNET II (Production Planning and Management in an Extended Enterprise - ESPRIT project).
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Integrated Logistics Management Support System: An Advanced Coordination Functionality for the
Virtual Environment
A. P. Klen, L.M Spinosa, R. J. Rabelo and A. C. Ferreira(UFSC)
In proceedings of the 5th International Workshop on Intelligent Manufacturing Systems, IMS'98,
Gramado, Brasil, November 1998.
Abstract
This paper presents an overview on Logistics as a support tool for the configuration of Virtual
Enterprises. This study was the basis used in the ESPRIT project PRODNET-II (Production Planning
and Management in an Extended Enterprise) to guide the proposition of some advanced co-ordination
functionalities (ACFs) which were created to avoid the business chaos when co-ordinating one or
more distributed business processes of a Virtual Enterprise.
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Integrated Logistics in the Virtual Enterprise: The PRODNET-II approach
A. P. Klen, R. J. Rabelo, L.M Spinosa and A. C. Ferreira (UFSC)
In proceedings of the 5th International Workshop on Intelligent Manufacturing Systems, IMS'98,
Gramado, Brasil, November 1998.
Abstract
To be included here.
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Generic framework for conflict resolution in negotiation-based agile scheduling systems
R. J. Rabelo (UFSC), L. M. Camarinha-Matos(UNL)
In proceedings of the 5th International Workshop on Intelligent Manufacturing Systems, IMS'98,
Gramado, Brasil, November 1998.
Abstract
This paper describes a general framework for conflict resolution being implemented on the HOLOS multi-agent scheduling system. The framework is integrated with the planning and execution supervision activities, emphasizing the importance of local supervision actions. Conflicts are classified in levels and types, and the specific actions for their resolution, carried out during scheduling generation, after its generation and during its execution, are also presented. A significant part of the conflict resolution process is supported by using the user guide negotiation approach. Finally, the decentralized scheduling supervision process is shown.
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Basic Services for the management of Virtual Enterprises: a Case Study
L. M. Spinosa (UFSC), A. C. Hofmann (HERTEN), R. J. Rabelo, A. P. Klen(UFSC)
Proceedings of BASYS'98 IEEE IFIP International Conference on Balanced Automation System, Prague, Czech
Republic, 24-26 August 1998.
Abstract
The main contribution of this work lies in giving rise and triggering further research towards the
development of software dedicated to the VE management, since this is just an attempt to give
direction to a complex problem. This paper introduces a model describing a basic set of services
aiming to support the management of important situations arising during the creation and operation
phases of VEs in manufacturing contexts. The model contemplates a study of some cases related with
the supply chain of Akros company. All this work has been motivated by the Esprit project Prodnet-II.
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Basic Services for the management of Virtual Enterprises: a Case Study
L. M. Spinosa (UFSC), A. C. Hofmann (HERTEN), R. J. Rabelo, A. P. Klen(UFSC)
In Intelligent Systems for Manufacturing - Multi-Agent Systems and Virtual Organizations, Eds. Luis M. Camarinha-Matos,
Hamideh Afsarmanesh and Vladimir Marik, Kluwer Academic Publishers, pp. 197-206, 1998.
Abstract
The main contribution of this work lies in giving rise and triggering further research towards the
development of software dedicated to the VE management, since this is just an attempt to give
direction to a complex problem. This paper introduces a model describing a basic set of services
aiming to support the management of important situations arising during the creation and operation
phases of VEs in manufacturing contexts. The model contemplates a study of some cases related with
the supply chain of Akros company. All this work has been motivated by the Esprit project Prodnet-II.
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An oriented Decision Support System model for Virtual Enterprise Coordination
L. M. Spinosa, R. J. Rabelo, A. P. Klen, A. C. Ferreira (UFSC)
In proceedings of Prolamat'98 / The Tenth International IFIP TC5 WG-5.2 WG-5.3 Conference,
September, 1998, Trento, Italy.
Abstract
This paper proposes an approach to face the lack of understanding and development of Decision
Support Systems for the Virtual Enterprise (VE) environment context. More precisely, a
Knowledge-based Decision Support System model is proposed aiming to help the decision-making
processes undertaken by the coordinator of a VE. The model stems mainly from the Agent Oriented
Programming Paradigm for Production Systems (AOP3S), which is mostly based on the Multiagent
Systems (MAS) concepts. This work has been motivated by the Prodnet-II Esprit project.
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High-Level Coordination of Business Processes in a Virtual Enterprise
L. M. Spinosa, R. J. Rabelo, A. P. Klen (UFSC)
In proceedings of Prolamat'98 / The Tenth International IFIP TC5 WG-5.2 WG-5.3 Conference, S
eptember, 1998, Trento, Italy.
Abstract
In a Virtual Enterprise scenario the management of the supply-chain is a complex task, especially when
some degrees of flexibility are envisaged to be supported. This paper intends to show an approach
to improve the quality of this management in order to avoid business chaos. More preciselly, it is
introduced a set of specialized software modules named Advanced Coordination Functionalities (ACFs),
which take end-user feedback into account to solve important problems during coordination actions
within the VE scenario. The study of ACFs is motivated and required by the Prodnet-II ESPRIT project.
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Agile Supply-Chain Coordination in the Virtual Enterprise
R. J. Rabelo, A. P. Klen, L. M. Spinosa, A. C. Ferreira (UFSC)
Presented in 4th IFAC/IFSA Brazilian Symposium on Intelligent Automation - SBAI'99, São Paulo,
Brazil, 8-10 September 1999.
Abstract
In this work the supply-chain co-ordination in the virtual enterprise environment is subject of
deeper analysis. The system developed by UFSC - DBPMS - for the management of distributed business
process is presented and some basic concepts for its definition and development are detailed.
The DBPMS provides means for getting, analyzing, making available and managing the information
from and about a virtual enterprise, enabling the enterprises to make their logistics more
efficiently by means of a integrated information-based supply-chain management.
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The PRODNET-II Approach for Managing Distributed Business Processes
L.M Spinosa, A. P. Klen, R. J. Rabelo, A. C. Ferreira (UFSC)
International ProTeM-CC Phase III Evaluation Workshop, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 5-7 May 1999.
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Integrated Logistics in the Virtual Enterprise: The PRODNET-II approach
A. P. Klen, R. J. Rabelo, L.M Spinosa and A. C. Ferreira (UFSC)
Presented in IMS'98 - 5th IFAC Workshop on Intelligent Manufacturing Systems,
Gramado - Brazil, November 1998.
Abstract
This paper presents an overview on Logistics as a support tool for the configuration of Virtual
Enterprises. This study was the basis used in the ESPRIT project PRODNET-II (Production Planning
and Management in an Extended Enterprise) to guide the proposition of some advanced co-ordination
functionalities (ACFs) which were created to avoid the business chaos when co-ordinating one or
more distributed business processes of a Virtual Enterprise.
ZIP File (123 Kb)
Tecnologia de fabricação rápida de protótipos e moldes para injeção dentro da filosofia
de empresas virtuais [in Portuguese only]
A. C. Ferreira, A. P. Klen, R. J. Rabelo(UFSC)
presented in Semana da Qualidade e Inovação Tecnológica / Encontro para o Desenvolvimento
Integrado de Processos e Produtos de Injeção de Plásticos, Metais e Cerâmicas, Florianópolis-SC,
Brazil, 16 September 1998.
ZIP File (2.68 MB)
Flexible Coordination and information sharing for virtual enterprises in PRODNET
L.M. Camarinha-Matos, H. Afsarmanesh
Production Management IFIP International Conference on Advances in
Production Management Systems, Kluwer Academic Publishers, September 6-10,
1999, Berlin, Germany.
ZIP File (not available yet)
Partners search and quality related information exchange in a virtual enterprise
L.M. Camarinha-Matos, H. Afsarmanesh, T. Cardoso
in Global Production Management IFIP International Conference on Advances in
Production Management Systems, Kluwer Academic Publishers, September 6-10,
1999, Berlin, Germany.
ZIP File (not available yet)
Hierarchical Coordination in Virtual Enterprise Infrastructures
L.M. Camarinha-Matos, H. Afsarmanesh, and C. Lima
To appear in Special Issue on Multi-agent Systems Applications of the Journal Intelligent and
Robotic Systems, 1999.
ZIP File (not available yet)
Flexibility and Safety in Web-based Infrastructure for Virtual Enterprises
L.M. Camarinha-Matos, H. Afsarmanesh, and A. L. Osorio
To appear in the Journal of Computer Integrated Manufacturing, 1999.
ZIP File (not available yet)
Multi-agent Perspectives to Agile Scheduling
R.J. Rabelo, L.M. Camarinha-Matos, and H. Afsarmanesh
To appear in Special issue on Intelligent Manufacturing Systems of the Journal of Robotics and Autonomous Systems, 1999.
ZIP File (not available yet)
STEP and EDIFACT for the Design of Communication Relationships in Virtual Enterprises
Schreiber, A.; Daseking, J.
To appear in ProductDataJournal, ProSTEP, 1999
ZIP File (not available yet)
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