The Net Planning Assistant - A Toolset to Support Planning in Competence-cell-based Networks

摘要

Autonomous, elementary units of production, co-operating in temporary networks, are viewed as a key organisational form of enterprise in the 21st century. A scientific approach is provided by networks based on customer-oriented, directly linked, smallest autonomous service units called Competence Cells. Simultaneously this concept, researched at the Collaborative Research Centre 457 "Non-hierarchical Regional Production Networks" at the Chemnitz University of Technology, points out perspectives for present-day small and medium-sized enterprises to face ever-changing economic conditions. For the planning of logistics structures and production plants in non-hierarchical regional networks the Planning Concept for Networks "PlaNet" has been developed, assisting the Competence Cells in tackling their planning problems. As one part of PlaNet procedures for solving a wide range of use cases of planning are concentrated in a Procedure Library. Methods and preconfigured object solutions are identified which are associated to the functions forming the steps of the procedures. The implementation of PlaNet is the Net Planning Assistant. There are special requirements on the Net Planning Assistant. To meet them the Net Planning Assistant has a modular structure. A special emphasis is placed on tools for participative planning. The Net Planning Assistant can be configured according to the requirements of the particular planning process by choosing the appropriate tools. These tools are cross-linked through a Production Database based on a Production Data Model which is another part of PlaNet. Access to the database is ensured through an internet portal. The miscellaneous tools are connected through interfaces which usually enable a data exchange via the Production Database. A number of commercial and proprietary tools which have been included in the Net Planning Assistant will be introduced. Among them are tools for modelling, planning of logistics structures and production plants, participation and visualisation, simulation, data and knowledge management. First results of the application of the Net Planning Assistant in prototypical production networks can be presented.