Chapter 10: Interoperability

Title: Enterprise interoperability enabling support of traceability

Author(s): Kai Mertins, Roland Jochem, Frank-Walter Jaekel

Address: Fraunhofer IPK-Berlin, Corporate Management, Pascalstr. 8-9, 10587 Berlin, Germany | Chair Quality Science, Berlin Institute of Technology, Institute for Machine Tools and Factory Management (IWF), Pascalstr. 8-9, 10587 Berlin, Germany | Fraunhofer IPK-Berlin, Corporate Management, Pascalstr. 8-9, 10587 Berlin, Germany

Reference: International Conference on Product Lifecycle Management 2010 pp. 467 - 476

Abstract/Summary: One major challenge for the ‘PLM community’ is the interoperability dimension: interoperability in terms of product data at IT-system levels but also in terms of processes, resources, persons, that should cooperate and must be coordinated along the product life-cycle from product development, product production, and product use to product disposal. Looking at the enterprise from a product-centric view the dimension of interoperability becomes a foundation of managing the tracing of the product along its life-cycle, so called traceability. It is a crucial aspect in relation to lead time, cost efficiency and quality. The paper describes a methodology for certification of enterprise interoperability leading to a possible solution by enterprise interoperability management which can be used to support the traceability during the product life-cycle. An initial concept for a management system will be illustrated to ensure enterprise interoperability and to enable support of product life-cycle.

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