Suite of configurable supply chain infrastructure modules for deploying collaborative e-manufacturing solutions

Abstract

A suite of configurable supply chain infrastructure modules provides the “collective manufacturing management infrastructure” necessary to support a high velocity e-business initiative. At the core of the collaboration scheme is the Business Process Modeling Module. The Business Modeling Module consists of two components: Business Process Event Coordinator, and Business Process Modeler. To further support the collaborative scheme, a suite of highly configurable application templates and pre-configured industry applications provide an interface or wrapper around the business rules. The application templates are designed to be used as stand-alone components, or can be assembled/configured into a cohesive solution to provide a basic foundation layer for a Collaborative Manufacturing Execution System (CMES). To address the connectivity of the CMES layer to the business layer and the shop floor automation layer, an Extensible Markup Language (XML) Business Connector and Optical Photo Conductor (OPC) Shop Floor Connector fulfill the interface needs required to support a collaborative infrastructure.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.