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Title: Agile design framework for offshore wind turbine manufacturing

Authors: Mehrnoosh Nickpasand; Henrique M. Gaspar

Addresses: Department of Ocean Operations and Civil Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Ålesund, Norway; Department of Operational Excellence, Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, Brande, Denmark ' Department of Ocean Operations and Civil Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway

Abstract: This study proposes an agile design framework for the offshore wind turbine (OWT) manufacturing system of Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (SGRE). The manufacturing process involves complex interactions among subsystems, requiring responsive adaptation to changing market demand and technological advancement. Traditional proactive change management strategies being inadequate, a reactive strategy using system engineering principles enhances agility. The framework integrates System of Systems Engineering (SoSE) methodologies to create an architecture supporting digital tool interoperability and subsystem communication. Key components include a manufacturing execution system (MES) and digital twin (DT), which use artificial intelligence (AI) deep learning (DL) models for real-time analysis and decision-making. The framework employs iterative methodology involving technology assessment and risk analysis to construct an agility portfolio for modern manufacturing. The findings aim to enable swift response to changes while maintaining operational excellence.

Keywords: agility; SoSE; system of systems engineering; portfolio management; offshore wind turbine (OWT) manufacturing.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSSE.2025.149466

International Journal of System of Systems Engineering, 2025 Vol.15 No.7, pp.1 - 21

Received: 06 May 2025
Accepted: 04 Aug 2025
Published online: 01 Nov 2025 *