Evaluating Manufacturing Information Models for Productivity and Profitability Assessment of Manufacturing Facilities

Paper in proceeding, 2012

A method for analysing the profitability of manufacturing facilities by linking factory floor productivity to financial measures has been developed. For the method to reach its full potential a software implementation is necessary and the initial step will be to transform the method into a reference information model. This paper presents an evaluation of information models using the developed method as an evaluation framework. Information modelling is an important technique for manufacturing system analysis, and there is indeed no shortage of modelling methods or languages. All approaches will be subject to limitations due to the variability of manufacturing systems in general and dependent on the objectives of an analysis in particular. Selecting a suitable approach is far from trivial. It will result in trade-offs, but valid trade-offs are not possible to make without understanding the potentials and limitations of different approaches. The purpose of this paper is to identify advantages and disadvantages of the evaluated methods and languages aiming to find an approach most suitable for assessing productivity and profitability. The framework of evaluated publications may be also be applied by other scientists or practitioners to help guide decision making when considering modelling methods or languages for production system analysis.