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This paper describes the components and functionalities of a Modelling Workbench (MW) to be used within the context of the so-called Purdue Enterprise Reference Architecture (PERA) methodology. The different life-cycle phases of an enterprise integration project and the model building blocks provided are presented and described. A short description of the proposed prestandard ENV 40 003 basic reference model, which provides the context for the so-called executable models, is first presented. This is followed by an explanation of the use of the MW within the context of the Purdue Enterprise Reference Architecture life-cycle support. While most of the issues discussed in this paper are confined to the shop floor environment and related applications, the general underlying concepts are relevant to manufacturing systems in general.

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This paper presents an overview of the evolution of manufacturing systems integrating infrastructures and standards, ranging from industrial network standards(1) such as MAP(2) and CNMA(3), that essentially support hardware integration, distributed platforms like OSF/DCE4 and OMG/CORBA(5) promoting industrial applications integration, up to integration frameworks like CIMOSA(6) which try to encompass all the aspects linked to business integration. This overview has a particular emphasis on the integrating infrastructure concepts towards enterprise integration. The advantages and constraints of a CIMOSA integrating infrastructure implementation using OSF/DCE is also presented and discussed.

Abstract
Continuous pressure for competitiveness increase led to the concept of enterprise integration. Within this context a modular approach to enterprise modelling, structuring it into manageable units which cooperate with each other according to identified needs and sharing information on request, is mandatory. The approach presented here encompasses a Modelling Workbench supporting the development of applications for the management and control of manufacturing operations: an integrated modelling and simulation environment providing both material and information flow modelling facilities, as well as the integration of material and information now executable models. Building on Simple++, a simulation tool supporting material flow modelling, a class library allowing the use of SDL (Specification and Description Language) for information flow modelling and simulation was developed. The paper also illustrates the SDL environment concept and its significance in the integrated model, as well as its use for shop floor CIM systems realization through stepwise integration.

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This paper describes a integrated set of tools supporting Prototype Development, Test and Integration of Shop-Floor Management Applications, as well as an illustrative case study. Increasing Requirements advise that rapid prototyping of shop-floor software applications is fostered by the use of powerful modelling tools. The authors describe the use of a combined agent oriented/structured analysis approach to build the software system agent hierarchy and behaviour, which are further modelled as SDL process classes through a powerful Modelling Workbench. The result of this approach was the integration of two off-the-sheIf tools, the Teamwork CASE Tool and the Modelling Workbench. This integration allows the SDL executable models to be used as emulated shop-floor applications. These application models, interacting with the prototypes of their user interlaces, as well as with the actual shop-floor simulation and production control models, may then be fully tested by the end-user in close-to-real conditions.

Abstract