Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02383934 2002-03-04
EDP system for business management
The invention refers to an EDP system for business management that can be used
to
integrate heterogeneous operational characteristic-value acquisition units for
characteristic quantities required for goods production and goods management
and to
control goods production or goods management in all individual businesses and
business
units.
It is generally known that EDP systems are used for business management, for
providing
management with information, for analysis or as an expert system.
A solution is known from document EP 0 209 907 A2 according to which the
various
management and administration functions in a big company are carned out by
different,
already existing individual systems, each individual system having
historically been
configured autonomously, each with its own format, parameters, definitions,
inputs, etc.
There are rarely any interfaces between the systems, so that the individual
systems cannot
easily communicate with each other unless via an operator or special adaptor
programs.
The solution is intended to improve the connection between the various and
autonomous
types of management and administration as well as the input, storage and
further
processing of the input data. The disadvantage of this solution is that no
mapping is made
of the production process or parts thereof. Any influence on or control of the
production
process occurs solely through verbal or numeric manual input. Communication
occurs
offline (intermediate storage), as necessary, for later retrieval, and not in
real-time. There
is no central control by management, but rather a decentralized information
exchange
(similar to a mail system). Mapping of the goods production process or goods
management process as a whole, including controlling or influencing, is not
provided.
The results according to the state-of the-art to date have no effect on the
management
control circuit.
The document US 5251294 describes a type of information system that accesses
different
CA 02383934 2002-03-04
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addressable and identified contents of a database by means of a computer.
Similar to an
expert system, the data stock is stored according to content. In the case of
an expert
system, however, the whole data stock is subject to numerous rules, which has
an adverse
effect on the search time. The disclosed characterizing feature is the
inclusion of the
user's idea in the search field to be examined, whereby only that subset of
hierarchically
classified contents is administered which is created through the selected
higher hierarchy
level or through combinations with other subsets. Since the information is
already
identified, immediate access to the content of the selected set is possible.
Thus, the
displayed, predicted content is determined by the user's solution method (the
chronology
of selection). This chronology of the solution method is shown in the form of
a logic tree.
Complex and mostly unstructured problems are given as the field of application
and the
business process is illustrated by means of examples. With this solution,
there is no
mapping of the production process, but rather a selective choice is made from
a large
knowledge base of an indicated database. There is no mapping of the goods
production or
goods management process as a whole, including control or influence. The
existing
results have no effect on the management control circuit.
Document DE 4431131 describes a "technical-organizational system tool". It
comprises a
set of rules with data or information for networked units, in particular
business
organizations. With respect to creating a control circuit with this "system
tool", the
participants in this business organization support themselves by way of self
organization.
The objective is to control a complex production process through the
participants in this
set of rules. It has been implemented as a software program in combination
with special
hardware. In terms of software, modules provided with systematics are created
with a
suitable software and the process components are weighted with multipliers.
The different
control circuits form a vertical hierarchy. The required data are acquired via
production
data acquisition systems and the communication is integrated into the system.
The set of
rules works on the basis of process, fault and performance measurement with
parameters.
The result-oriented management is mapped into a process-oriented management in
a
control circuit, the criterion comprising a spiral of continuous improvement.
To this end,
process-oriented function units are connected with each other. The self
organization is
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3
created through self adapting control of the process components of the
business
processes. The disadvantage of this solution is that the data upon which this
business
control circuit is based cannot be provided redundancy-free and thus safely
acquired by
the EDP system online and in real-time.
David Hare's publication "Succeeding with ERP", MANUFACTURING ENGINEER,
April 1999 (1999-04), pages 65 - 67, XP002177153, describes the implementation
of an
ERP software in a storage administration system connected to a real-time
process
monitoring system. This coupling is used to automate and flexibilize
production planning
as well as for storage and distribution, outgoing materials, controlling
(including profit
and loss statement), sales prognoses, shipping scheduling and customer
service.
A similar system for the improved planning and monitoring of activities with
quick
response to changes is mentioned by Fox et al in the document "The Integrated
Supply
Chain Management System", Internet Citation, XX, XX, December 7, 1993 (1993-12-
07), pages 1 - 11, XP002090173. Between agents, a coordination and logical
cooperation
occurs on the three levels Strategy, Tactics and Effect for the areas
Requests,
Distribution, Production and Materials Management. Thus, only some sections of
corporate management are covered, without taking into account the complex
connections
within a business process.
Furthermore, in the publication "Impacts of Enterprise Wide Supply-Chain
Management
Techniques on Process Control", Proceedings of the 1999 IEEE International
Conference
on Control Applications, August 22 - 27, 1999, pages 605 - 608, XP002177154
Kohala
Coast, Hawaii, USA, Tjoa et al describe the integration of enterprise resource
planning
and supply chain management for optimizing business processes and decision-
making by
interlinking them with the production process. The main factors in management
decisions
and flexible production are considered to be delivery times, production
volume,
production costs and service quality, resulting in a limited application for
certain sections
of corporate management.
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4
The aforementioned documents deal only with certain sections of the business
process of
an enterprise. However, it is not possible to map and control the whole,
general business
process of the enterprise via EDP, since the raw data that are used are a mix
of details and
complex values.
From the document Kappelhoff, R. "Integration of ERP to the final control
elements" in
ISA Transactions, Instrument Society of America, Pittsburgh, US, Vol. 36, No.
4, 1997,
pages 229 - 238, XP004118375 ISSN: 0019-0578, the integration of an ERP/MRP
system
with a real-time production control system especially for products
manufactured from
multiple components is known. The real-time production control system is the
executing
organ and the starting point for most of the strategies for enterprise
control. In the
ERP/MRP system, the S88 model is implemented as the process control standard
which
describes how the necessary data can be stored and exchanged.
Amongst other things, this is intended to give companies control over their
quality
requirements and delivery mechanisms throughout the world.
The described interlinkings permit administrative evaluations to be carried
out through
reciprocal data communications between the manufacturing process, quality
control and
ERP software by recording the messages of a production unit and comparing them
with
an ideal situation. These would be used for improving the use of materials and
the
utilization of resources, but without controlling the general business
process; however,
the additional unsolved problem exists: which data to store in which part of
the
interlinkings.
Basically, this integration of an ERP/MRP system with a real-time production
control
system is suitable for use throughout an enterprise. However, this integrated
system, too,
is not suitable for mapping the general business process of an enterprise,
analyzing it and
using it for business management.
The object of the invention is to develop an EDP system for business
management which,
using the business facts, states and processes in the individual businesses
and business
CA 02383934 2002-03-04
units, maps, analyses, evaluates and triggers responses redundancy-free by
means of the
lowest common multiple, and secures and controls the EDP connections of all
the units
used for the production of goods by means of communications technology,
whereby the
production data are edited and processed directly online and in real-time via
production
data acquisition workstations.
According to the invention, the object is fulfilled through the characterizing
features
listed in Claim 1. The sub-claims contain preferred embodiments of the
invention.
The advantages of the invention are
- that the production data are edited and processed via production data
acquisition
stations,
- that the EDP connection of all the units used in production are integrated
in the
comprehensive enterprise information system via interfaces and special
interface
software and that the units used for production are controlled by them,
- that by the symbiosis of EDP system, telephone system and Internet, the
internal and
external communication occurs via an integration means supported by EDP. Thus,
the
structure of the "integration" is formulated as a "postulate" of comprehensive
"integration" beyond "just" software, including production and communications
technology, and implemented in this system,
- that the individual relationships of the performance potential of the
enterprise are
correctly mapped by means of information technology via the element of
integration
and are used to control goods production and goods management,
- that the information technology, as the "transmission mechanism", affects
the
coordination process between production and consumption areas,
- that, as an identification criterion, the integration element in the
aforementioned
coordination process affects all the business processes between production and
consumption,
- that an information system of the enterprise's goods production and goods
management is mapped via the software,
CA 02383934 2002-03-04
6
- that there is continuous improvement in the process of coordination
proceedings
between the market participants and the enterprise units right up to the
execution level
in the process of goods production and marketing,
- that the integrated software adds the expenses incurred by the production
process to
the cost account in real-time and online, thus permitting the transparent
actual cost of
the goods to be displayed at any time,
- that the required combined factors in the goods production process are
displayed
according to process sequence and cost accounting,
- that the services used in the production of goods can be determined in real-
time via
information technology and can be separated according to department,
- that the existing evaluation results have an effect on the management
control circuit.
The essence of the invention is characterized in that it is an EDP-based
process for
enterprise management in which the whole business process is integrated in the
EDP, thus
making this integration itself a fundamental factor in the production. With
this
operational base as the prerequisite for the solution, it is possible to adapt
a business
model in such a way that with the implementation of the software, generally,
in all the
business units, the business process can be suitably mapped in the EDP by
means of the
base element according to the invention. This mapping of the general business
process,
which is especially suitable for EDP, in a software program for enterprise
management is
what is special, specifically realized by means of the base element. This
software
application maps a whole enterprise redundancy-free and in real-time through
numerous
base elements according to the business units, provides this information to
other units,
makes an enterprise transparent to a non-humanoid controller and draws up
additional
analyses, carries out control functions programmed as processes, independently
evaluates
individual processes according to defined criteria and initiates the
respective responses.
This mapping of the business process information of an enterprise through EDP
is carried
out using the software application without requiring the use of the human
mind, but rather
as the consequence of utilizing controllable natural forces in the form of
processes
inherent in the system as well as process evaluation and the programmed
control
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7
processes. Independent of the present concrete programmed implementation as a
program
code, this solution implements a technical and information process.
Using examples, the invention is explained in detail below.
Figure 1 shows the production factors and their targeted combination for an
existing
demand on the goods and factor market.
Figure 2 shows the interlinking of business data as elements of the
integration.
Figure 3 shows the integration, combination and evaluation of the factors of
goods
production management.
Figure 4 shows the principle of an EDP system for business management.
Figure 5 shows the technical implementation of an EDP system for business
management.
The development of an EDP system for business management which serves to
integrate
heterogeneous operational characteristic-value acquisition units for
characteristic
quantities required for goods production and goods management and to control
goods
production is based on the management control circuit whose starting point is
the
production and consumption area, the separation of the business areas into
production and
consumption being defined through controlled, functional money management.
Production (provision of products and services) is provided by the individual
businesses
and business units (enterprises, public corporations, etc.). Consumption
(consuming
products and services) is classified under private households. The exchange of
products
and services between private households and the remaining individual
businesses and
business units occurs via the factor and goods markets. The evaluation of the
goods
(products and services) occurs (under the assumption of a controlled financial
system) on
the basis of supply and demand. The "integrated" factor combination represents
the
performance potential of the individual businesses and business units. The
integration
elements of the "integration" factor permit computer support of the factor
combinations
and the mapping of all the business processes by means of the business
management
software. The business facts, states and processes in the individual
businesses and
business units are thus mapped redundancy-free through the software by means
of the
EDP system.
CA 02383934 2002-03-04
g
Goods and services are created in the enterprises in a known manner by the
targeted
combination of production factors for an existing demand on the goods and
factor market,
the performance potential 1 existing in the enterprise being classified in
elementary
factors 2 of management, human labour 3, operating material 4 (offered by the
individual
businesses and business units), materials 5 (offered by the individual
businesses and
business units), retrievable available information (6) as a kind of knowledge,
as shown in
Figure 1. Materials 5 (semi-finished goods, fabricated materials, accessory
materials)
comprises all goods that flow into goods production as variable resources. The
performance potential 1 of the individual businesses becomes effective through
the ability
to combine elementary factors 2 (human labour 3, operating material 4,
materials 5 and
retrievable available information 6) via an optional factor 7 which is
organized and
created in the respective individual business. The combination of factors, as
the
performance potential 1 of the enterprise, is carried out in the business
units identified as
"function areas". The classification of the functions to be allocated to these
function areas
is based on the prescribed fact combination process in the different lines of
business. One
essential prerequisite for the successful organization of internal and
external business
processes in targeted actions during goods production and in order to ensure
services is
the integration of the function areas and functions in the enterprise. Only
with integration
will the processes during the combination of factors (as repeatable work
processes) be
standardized through the "transmission effect" of the software and thus be
"certainly"
repeatable. The required hardware, which is necessary to use the software, is
allocated to
the elementary factor 2, operating material 4. Integration of the information
technology
across all the function areas and functions requires that the classification
of function areas
must fulfil the demand for universal validity, whereby it must be noted that,
through their
weighting, the enterprise's individual lines of business may differ in their
factor
combinations, but can still be mapped in the same function area plan. In order
to create a
software, as the basic integration system for business management, which is
independent
of the lines of business and simultaneously specific to the lines of business,
mapping the
business performance process requires that to the elementary factor 2
comprising human
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9
labour 3, operating material 4, materials 5, retrievable available information
6 as well as
the optional factor 7, a factor integration 8 be added, which serves to
record, identify and
determine the consumption of value as well as to define the use of human
labour 3,
operating material 4, materials 5 and the retrievable available information 6
in
production. The effectiveness of the combination of factors depends mainly on
the
optional factor 7 and the achieved degree of integration of the function areas
and
functions.
The factor integration 8 that has an effect in the function areas works
through a base
element 9 as shown in Figure 2. Sub-totaled under the base element 9 or farces
of
integration are the smallest units of common data, facts and processes, from
whose sum a
"whole" is formed. The breakdown of the base element 8 is based on the
requirement to
trace back all the states or processes of business activity to the "smallest
building blocks"
which, at the same time, are also sub-totaled elements (in an overall
quantity). When the
structure of the business has been traced back to no longer differentiable
data and facts,
then any conceivable combination in all the business processes can be mapped
and joined
again to form optionally designed units of technical and business states,
processes and
organizational structures. This ensures that these "smallest elements" of
business data
(facts, states, etc.) are simultaneously elements of the factor integration 8
and form the
base element 9 which comprises at least two of the elements address 10,
article 11,
conditions 12 and process 13, the characterizing features of the address 10,
article 11,
conditions 12 and process 13 can be optionally interchanged.
The suitable information and communication technologies used to control the
business
processes and production processes are capable of mapping and editing these
complex
connections.
Examples of the characterizing features follow:
Address 10:
The clear identification of all market participants is carried out via address
10. In data
f
CA 02383934 2002-03-04
processing, this term for the "identification" of all persons, legal entities,
etc. permits the
allocation of all business processes. The factor human labour 3 is also
directly recorded
via address 10. Address 10 identifies all market participants (supplier,
customer, etc.),
enterprise divisions, departments, etc. right down to the employees. Thus all
location- and
name-related information can be stored centrally and redundancy-free at a
single location
and edited, stored and retrieved as data, voice and images for the information
and
communication technology.
Article 11:
The object of all business activity is goods (products and services). These
goods
(including public goods) must be clearly identified in data processing; this
process is
called article identification. The term article 11 is used to identify all
operating material 4
(including land and capital) as well as materials 5 and retrievable available
information 6,
and the performance (task, work process, scheduling, etc.) involved in the
production
process is also recorded via article 11. Even human labour 3 provided as a
service and
used as a factor is recorded and edited via article identification 11. Thus
all the products
(including semi-finished goods and accessory materials, etc.) to be recorded
in the
production process or in sales as goods, as well as services that are objects
of business
activity and cost and performance accounting are recorded with article 11. The
time to be
charged or the overhead to be distributed using "apportionment formulae", etc.
must also,
according to this definition, be edited under the identification of "article
no. logic" in
article 11. With the exception of the optional factor 7, all performance
factors are
recorded via article identification 11 and thus can be recognized, i.e.
recorded, by data
processing.
Conditions 12:
The influences on article 11 are called conditions 12. These include the
physical
quantities in the various units and the measurable influences on the article
11. The
influences are allocated as influence factors to article 11 via
parameterizable "formulae"
(as states that can be duplicated by calculation), as required. As a result,
the physical and
CA 02383934 2002-03-04
11
measurable effects on article 11 become calculable and, thus, accessible far
data
processing. The special "address conditions" resulting from the combination of
article 11
and address 10 are also recorded via conditions 12 and taken into account in
all the
processes that affect these combinations, thus also the evaluation of
performance
consumption in the work processes, tasks or activities. The same applies to
conditions 12
that are valid for certain processes or interlinkings (from address 10 ->
article 11 ->
process 13) and the "special conditions" which require particular attention
here. From the
elements of integration 10 to 11, optional states can be depicted which, out
of the
numerous theoretical connections, are valid based on "special conditions" and
can thus be
clearly set out in the software programs.
Process 13:
The description of factor combinations is carried out via process 13. Each
business action
is carried out under firmly defined or freely designable (innovative) process
types. The
rules established by a higher authority (statutory or corporate) concerning
goods traffic or
the universally valid directives (such as laws and official regulations)
governing active or
passive behaviour within the enterprise (internal) and on the market
(external) are
mapped via process 13. Sub-listed under the term "external processes" are all
the rules
(laws, official regulations, etc.) and regulations (freely designable
agreements) with the
economic region and market participants outside the enterprise. The external
processes
also apply to the information and goods exchange processes defined voluntarily
or
bindingly or set out in standards (universally applicable, e.g. EDIFACT,
SEDAS, CCG
standards, etc.) by the market participants. Internally acquired know-how
(patents, trade
marks and copyrights) as well as rights and patents utilized by external
market
participants are also integrated in the performance process of the enterprise
via process
13. The factor combinations occurring in the enterprise as well as the
optional tasks to be
carried out by the senior levels are compiled under the term "internal
processes" in
process 13. In order to control the factor combinations in the enterprise,
systems are used
for recording production data, computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) and for
production planning and control. The necessary organizational descriptions and
the
CA 02383934 2002-03-04
12
technical integration of all the production aggregates in the information
technology (via
interfaces) are defined and physically realized through the integration
element "internal
processes" in process 13, so too the description of person-related tasks, work
stations and
work processes. The utilization and use of operating material 4 in the
respective special
combination (according to the state-of the-art and the available
infrastructure) in the
individual businesses and business units for the respective goods production
are described
or set out through process 13. All the processes and rules between the market
participants
and between the function areas or functions in the enterprise are recorded in
reality
through process 13 based on the actual situation. The greater the degree of
mapping that
is achieved, the lower the friction losses (caused by data processing) between
the market
participants and the enterprise's lines of business in the production process.
Recording the
material consumption in goods production using the software of the base
integration
system occurs in the same way as human labour 3 and operating material 4
through
address 10, article 11, conditions 12 and process 13.
As shown in Figure 3, the goods offered on the markets are created from the
combination
of performance potential l, the elementary factor 2 and the base element 9 in
the
enterprises, individual businesses and business units. At the time of
observation, the
performance potential 1 of an enterprise is considered to be given.
Improvement in
performance is, however, still the permanent task of management. Thus the
necessity of
optimizing the deployment of individual performance factors. Technical
progress and
international division of labour permit management to change the factor
combination in
the enterprise over time and to increase its competitiveness. The development
of the
factor prices on the markets and, thus, in the enterprises, is the primary
reason for the
changes in the structure of the factor combinations. The combination of
factors, as the
interlinking of the elementary factor 2 as human labour 3, operating material
4
(aggregates, machines, site), materials 5 (including raw materials, accessory
materials,
operating materials), retrievable available information 6, control this
process through
management of the optional activity 7 (optional factor 7) and integration 8
occurs,
according to the prescribed production function, as EDP mapping in the
function areas of
CA 02383934 2002-03-04
13
management and controlling by means of time management 14, goods management /
cost
accounting and finances 15 through the base element 9 with address 10, article
11,
conditions 12 and process 13, a goods production process / goods management
process 16
(goods manufacture) in the form of the manufactured products 17.
The factor combinations (in the goods production process / goods management
process
16) in Figure 3 show that the performance potential 1 of the enterprise
(capacities of
human labour 3, operating material 4, materials 5, retrievable available
information 6) in
combination with the performance of the factor integration 8 via this base
element 9,
address 10 and article 11, conditions 12 and process 13 is mapped according to
process
sequence and cost accounting. The types of performance: amount of work, use of
operating material as well as consumed materials, which flow into the goods
production
process / goods management process 16 can be determined in real-time through
data
processing and can be delimited in the performance process from department to
department. The measurable and physical projection of individual work
processes,
machine performance and materials consumption in the goods production process
must
be directly attributed to the cost account of the respective department. Thus
the integrated
software of the base integration system ensures that the expenses incurred by
the
production process are attributed to the cost account in real-time and online,
making the
"actual costs" of the individual goods transparent at any time. This mapping
process of
the goods production in the information system must be broken down into
criteria
specific to the lines of business. Breaking down the enterprise into groups,
types and
different lines of business is carried out subject to configuring a software
specific to the
lines of business of the base integration system for the enterprise using the
application.
According to Figure 4, the principle of the EDP system for enterprise
management is
shown as a mapping of the goods production process / goods management process
16
with heterogeneous individual businesses / business units 18 of an enterprise
comprising,
for instance, units of management, research and development, financial
department,
advertisement, quality assurance system, incoming and outgoing goods,
stockkeeping,
CA 02383934 2002-03-04
14
human resources and production, etc. which, through heterogeneous data
connections 19,
are partially connected to characteristic value acquisition and control units
for controlling
and monitoring goods production which, through their logical model, can be
shown as a
base element 9, in that the performance potential 1 of the individual
businesses and
business units 18 can be formed by the elementary factors 2 such as human
labour 3,
operating material 4, materials 5, retrievable available information 6, which
work with
the integration 8 via an optional factor 7, and the base element 9, which
comprises at least
two elements of the address 10, article 11, conditions 12 and process 13, the
characterizing features of the elements capable of being interchangeably used,
whereby
the data connections 19 allocated to a goods production process / goods
management
process 16 are connected, via a specific integration element 20, individually
and/or jointly
with others to a base integration system 22 via specific interfaces 21, the
base integration
system 22 comprising a software 23 and a known computer system 24. This base
integration system 22, using the software 23, permits the goods production
process
goods management process 16 to be mapped in real-time, the software 23 permits
the
allocation of the base element 9 to the individual businesses / business units
18, the base
element 9 is actively connected in real-time to the allocated characteristic-
value
acquisition and control units via the specific integration element 20 and the
specific data
connections 19, the base elements 9 in their entirety map this goods
production process /
goods management process 16 so adequately that their control and monitoring is
provided
by directives from an intelligent control system 25. The intelligent control
system 25 is
connected by a cable (a) to the base integration system 22. Information in
real-time is
provided by the intelligent control system 25 as data records that are
converted into
signals and vice versa from signals into data records, which is carned out,
using
directives from it for the goods production process / goods management process
16, by
the computer 26, through a software layer 27 and through a connecting element
28 by
means of a software; the software layer 27 and the connecting element 28
together with
the internal software may form an integral part of the computer system 24),
and the
intelligent control system 25, by means of the computer 26, the software layer
27 and the
connecting element 28, interacts with the base integration system 22 and the
specific
CA 02383934 2002-03-04
integration element 20 via the data connections 19 with the individual
businesses /
business units 18 in such a way that the performance potential 1 of the
individual
businesses / business units 18 is identified by elementary factors 2 and
available as a data
record in the intelligent control system 25, and makes a selection of
directives for
positively influencing the goods production process / goods management process
16 and
then controls the goods production process / goods management process 16 by
means of
the aforementioned data flow and active connections with the objective of a
profit-
oriented and process-oriented management of the goods production process /
goods
management process 16, which is specified by the elementary factors 2, human
labour 3,
operating material 4, materials 5 and retrievable available information 6 and
whose ability
to be combined depends on an optional factor 7 and an integration 8.
According to Figure 5, technically the EDP system for business management is
realized
on different levels and in different modules that are connected with one
another via
permanently defined interfaces and are thus interchangeable, without affecting
the other
modules.
A presentation / interaction 29 serves as an interface to human labour 3,
receives input
from it and provides it with the determined results. It communicates with an
application
31 via a permanently defined interface I 30. The application 31 contains the
operational
flow logic and carnes out the actions requested by human labour 3. To this
end, it
communicates with a data management system 33 via an interface II 32. The data
management system 33 accesses an internal database 35 via an interface III 34
or accesses
a remote (external) database 37 via an interface IV 36 and via this interface
provides the
application 31 with the data required for processing or it downloads the data
determined
by the application 31 into the internal database 35 or into the external
database 37.
The permanently defined interface I 30 permits the module presentation /
interaction 29
to be exchanged without affecting the other levels and modules. Thus, text
presentations
and graphic presentations are interchangeable without having to change the
application
31. Similarly, the firm definition of the interface II 32 permits the data
management
system to be exchanged without affecting the other levels and modules. The
interface I 29
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to human labour 3 and the type of data maintenance can be changed in this way,
without
having to change the other components.
In order to integrate the aggregates used in the production of the goods and
services, a
high level application interface 39 addresses the application 31 via an
interface V 38. This
is not operating-material-specific, but rather provides a higher-level
quantity of functions
that can request the application 31 from the aggregates used in the production
of goods
and services. Via an interface VI 41, the high-level application interface 39
accesses an
operating-material-specific communication to operating materials 42 which
controls the
operating materials 4 via an interface VII 43. The operating materials 4 may
be optionally
controllable aggregates such as scales, scanners, high-shelf storage or
tubular tracks. A
control message manager 40 is an autonomous layer around the presentation /
interaction
29, the application 31, the data management system 33, the high-level
application
interface 39 and the interfaces 30, 32, 34, 35 and 38. It intercepts the
messages from the
different modules and interfaces and directs them to the addressed module
which
processes the message accordingly.
f
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Terminology:
1 Performance potential
2 Elementary factor
3 Human labour
4 Operating materials
Materials
6 Retrievable available information
7 Optional factor
8 Integration
9 Base element
Address
11 Article
12 Condition
13 Process
14 Time management
Goods management / cost accounting and finances
16 Goods production process / goods management process
17 Product
18 Individual business / business unit
19 Data connection
Specific integration element
21 Specific interface
22 Base integration system
23 Software
24 Computer system
Intelligent control system
26 Computer
27 Software layer
28 Connecting element
29 Presentation / interaction
s
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30 Interface I between presentation / interaction and application
31 Application
32 Interface II between application and data management system
33 Data management system
34 Interface III between data management system and internal database
35 Internal database
36 Interface IV between data management system and external database
37 External database
38 Interface V between application and high-level application interface
39 High-level application interface
40 Control message manager
41 Interface VI between the high-level application interface and the
communication
to operating materials
42 Communication to operating materials
43 Interface VII between the communication operating materials and the
operating
materials
a Connection
