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A lack of consistent data, reliable analysis techniques, and user-friendly tools is inhibiting decision makers' abilities to assess and evaluate the sustainability performance of manufacturing processes and systems. Recent integration of information technology with advanced manufacturing technologies has led to a new paradigm, termed smart manufacturing or Industry 4.0. To leverage this paradigm shift for the advancement of sustainable manufacturing, efforts have been made to characterize unit manufacturing processes (UMPs) for sustainability assessment and to develop frameworks, methodologies, and standards utilizing information modeling approaches. This paper proposes a grey box object-oriented software framework for sustainability assessment of complex manufacturing systems, utilizing the multiple inheritance principle for composition of UMP models. Information modeling guidelines based on the framework are provided for UMP model developers and UMP performance analysts to construct and analyze system models. To demonstrate the usefulness of the framework and guidelines, a prototype information model is developed for a hybrid manufacturing system composed of fused deposition modeling (an additive process) and CNC milling (a subtractive process). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficiency of natural stone production processes in quarries directly affects the economic output and environmental performances, such as production lead times and energy consumptions. Knowledge on stone production processes is crucial in making responsible decisions in this business. Having a structured representation of information characterizing the stone production processes will support stakeholders in better assessing production resources in terms of sustainability and productivity. Value stream mapping can provide an overview and guidance for sustainability performance evaluation, but its application is limited. The challenges arise when trying to specifically map and relate sustainability data between processes e.g., variability in lead time and CO 2 emissions. Manufacturing process characterization standards currently being developed by ASTM International manifest the potential to not only fill this gap but also to provide opportunities to characterize and compose manufacturing processes with relevant environmental information and description. This paper shows the application and lessons learned from deploying one such effort towards standardization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Viewpoint modeling is an effective approach for analyzing and designing complex systems. Splitting various elements and corresponding constraints into different perspectives of interests, enables separation of concerns such as domains of expertise, levels of abstraction, and stages in lifecycle. Specifically, in Systems Engineering different viewpoints could include functional requirements, physical architecture, safety, geometry, timing, scenarios, etc. Despite partial interdependences, the models are usually developed independently by different parties, using different tools and languages. However, the essence of Systems Engineering requires repetitive integration of many viewpoints in order to find feasible designs and to make good architectural decisions, e.g., in each mapping between consecutive levels of abstraction and in each design space exploration. This integration into one consistent model becomes a significant challenge from both modeling and information management perspectives. In this paper we suggest (1) a unique modular algebraic viewpoint representation robust to design evolution and suitable for generation of the integrated optimization/analysis models, and (2) an underlying ontology-based approach for consistent integration of local viewpoint concepts into the unified design space model. We show an example of an optimization model with different combinations of partially interdependent Analysis Viewpoints. Using the proposed modeling and information management approaches the underlying viewpoint''s equations can be applied without modification, making the approach pluggable. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This article provides perspectives on how a test organization can organize and plan for enterprise-wide adoption of advances in emerging technologies and techniques, whether developed in-house or acquired from external sources. This article enumerates capabilities that greatly enhance a test organization's ability to support the impending testing demands from such GIG/SOA-based projects and presents an overarching strategic plan for integrating existing test technologies, identifying enterprise-wide technology gaps, and coordinating the development and acquisition of new test capabilities to greatly accelerate their readiness to meet impending net-centric testing challenges. The plan discussed in this article includes short-, medium-, and long-term horizon components to acquire or improve current test capabilities and offers a layered architecture that provides a framework for capability acquisition. Test organizations can incentivize their contractors to exploit the composability, reusability, and extensibility of technical attributes of SOA to support the development of the layered architecture. The authors conclude that the design of the test organization instrumentation and automation on top of the GIG/SOA infrastructure should be based on a model-driven software approach, systems-engineering modeling, and simulation principles and frameworks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]