MAP – Machine Learning for Agile Process Management in Machine and Equipment Manufacturing

Within the MAP project, the budatec GmbH use case aims at creating an integrated agile process management system that enables the derivation and realization of quickly executable process scenarios with the push of a button. For the first time, foresight instruments are linked with the automated generation of processes and implemented as a prototype.

Automated generation of process scenarios

Customization of standard products is a clear strength of small and medium-sized companies. At the same time, manufacturing of such products requires a high level of technological expertise and thus manual labor. These two aspects increase the complexity of order and production processes, because no two products are alike. The make-or-buy decisions for individual assemblies are also made on an order-specific basis with the help of the model-based interactive situation awareness monitor developed by Fraunhofer IPK, which is based on capacity information of resources and available suppliers.

An assistance system for the shop floor is being developed to provide employees with the information required to execute an individual order on a role-based basis. The order-specific work steps and associated documents are displayed on a mobile device. The foundation for this is the automated generation of order-specific manufacturing process models (process scenarios) via preconfigured manufacturing process modules. These modules are individually assembled like building blocks for each customer order and enriched with order information. Feedback from employees also flows into the specific production model and can in turn be displayed on the situation awareness monitor.

Ambidextrous process management

The efficient implementation of ad-hoc tasks (e.g. on-site deployment at the customer's premises) is indispensable for ensuring high service quality. Similarly, order-specific components, for example, need to be designed and manufactured at short notice. From a strategic point of view, additional resilience measures for dealing effectively with disruptions must also be developed and implemented. At the same time, the stability of regular business and manufacturing processes must be ensured.

The concept of ambidexterity is used to master the tensions between dynamics and stability. By dual-operating organizational and process structures, ad-hoc tasks are handled separately from routine processes. This is made possible by transparent coordination of tasks, which is supported by the ambidextrous task management system. The task-related information is displayed and processed on a role-based basis as part of the situation awareness monitor or on the mobile device for the shop floor.

Integration of best practices

If mechanisms for handling ad-hoc tasks have proved themselves, they are integrated into the enterprise model. In this way, the optimized business and manufacturing processes form a more precise basis for ML-based environment analysis in the situation awareness monitor. The interaction of the systems enables a continuous and data-based evolution of the processes. They form the basis for the transparent management of recurring as well as ad-hoc processes and support networked actions throughout the company.

Corporate environment analysis with machine learning

Due to the diverse and overlapping influences from the corporate environment (e.g., pandemic, chip crisis, natural disasters), decisions must be made on the basis of both internal company data (e.g., liquidity) and environmental information (e.g., technology trends). Thus, the base for dynamic reactions is a constantly updated picture of the company and the corporate environment.

The model-based interactive situation awareness monitor enables the simulation of factors influencing liquidity. In the MAP project, it is extended by the strategic component of model-based environment analysis in order to identify and prepare the information relevant for the company. Machine learning (ML) methods are used for this purpose. For example, messages on the latest technological developments in the products' application areas are displayed. Therefore, the model-based interactive situation awareness monitor with integrated ML-based environment analysis forms the assistance system for senior executives in strategic corporate management.

Within the MAP project, the KSB SE & Co. KGaA use case aims at developing an integrated agile product portfolio and process management system that enables the derivation and realization of quickly executable simulation scenarios with the push of a button. This makes it possible to realize dynamic optimization of product and process variance starting from the market launch of KSB products. The classic tools of variant management are enriched for the first time by process information and predictive methods.

Processing and continuous analysis of business transactions

For this purpose, all relevant criteria are mapped in a comprehensive data model, key figures are calculated and clearly presented in dashboards. In addition to technological, logistical and commercial criteria, process data is also included in order to provide additional interfaces for the agile optimization of the product portfolio.

Enhancement of analytics with predictive analytics and strategic foresight criteria

Predictive analytics approaches are used to create demand forecasts from historical data and enable automatic evaluation of the product portfolio. However, internal changes such as the strategic development of the company as well as external influences such as market trends and disruptive events (e.g. pandemic) cannot be extracted from the historical data. In order to take such influences into account and thus ensure the most accurate possible look into the future, the evaluations are supplemented with strategic foresight methods.

Simulation and evaluation of process and value stream metrics for actions

With the help of machine learning, scenarios with optimized key metrics are suggested. These can be further refined by manually adjusting the parameters. The resulting alternative solutions can be compared on the basis of their influence on value stream and process key indicators.

Implementation of collaborative decisions in the product and process model

In an IT-supported, cross-functional work process, expert opinions can be supplemented and decision-making processes can be facilitated. The transfer of the decision into new product data models also takes place within the collaboration platform and using the data from the defined scenario.