@article{BenderBertheauKoerppenetal.2022, author = {Bender, Benedict and Bertheau, Clementine and K{\"o}rppen, Tim and Lauppe, Hannah and Gronau, Norbert}, title = {A proposal for future data organization in enterprise systems}, series = {Information systems and e-business management}, volume = {20}, journal = {Information systems and e-business management}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Heidelberg}, issn = {1617-9846}, doi = {10.1007/s10257-022-00555-6}, pages = {441 -- 494}, year = {2022}, abstract = {The digital transformation sets new requirements to all classes of enterprise systems in companies. ERP systems in particular, which represent the dominant class of enterprise systems, are struggling to meet the new requirements at all levels of the architecture. Therefore, there is an urgent need to reconsider the overall architecture of the systems and address the root of the related issues. Given that many restrictions ERP pose on their adaptability are related to the standardization of data, the database layer of ERP systems is addressed. Since database serve as the foundation for data storage and retrieval, they limit the flexibility of enterprise systems and the chance to adapt to new requirements accordingly. So far, relational databases are widely used. Using a systematic literature approach, recent requirements for ERP systems were identified. Prominent database approaches were assessed against the 23 requirements identified. The results reveal the strengths and weaknesses of recent database approaches. To this end, the results highlight the demand to combine multiple database approaches to fulfill recent business requirements. From a conceptual point of view, this paper supports the idea of federated databases which are interoperable to fulfill future requirements and support business operation. This research forms the basis for renewal of the current generation of ERP systems and proposes to ERP vendors to use different database concepts in the future.}, language = {en} } @article{LaemmerEggertGronau2008, author = {L{\"a}mmer, Anne and Eggert, Sandy and Gronau, Norbert}, title = {A procedure model for a SoA-based integration of enterprise systems}, issn = {1548-1115}, year = {2008}, language = {en} } @article{LassGronau2020, author = {Lass, Sander and Gronau, Norbert}, title = {A factory operating system for extending existing factories to Industry 4.0}, series = {Computers in industry : an international, application oriented research journal}, volume = {115}, journal = {Computers in industry : an international, application oriented research journal}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0166-3615}, doi = {10.1016/j.compind.2019.103128}, pages = {8}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Cyber-physical systems (CPS) have shaped the discussion about Industry 4.0 (I4.0) for some time. To ensure the competitiveness of manufacturing enterprises the vision for the future figures out cyber-physical production systems (CPPS) as a core component of a modern factory. Adaptability and coping with complexity are (among others) potentials of this new generation of production management. The successful transformation of this theoretical construct into practical implementation can only take place with regard to the conditions characterizing the context of a factory. The subject of this contribution is a concept that takes up the brownfield character and describes a solution for extending existing (legacy) systems with CPS capabilities.}, language = {en} } @misc{PanzerBenderGronau2023, author = {Panzer, Marcel and Bender, Benedict and Gronau, Norbert}, title = {A deep reinforcement learning based hyper-heuristic for modular production control}, series = {Zweitver{\"o}ffentlichungen der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam : Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaftliche Reihe}, journal = {Zweitver{\"o}ffentlichungen der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam : Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaftliche Reihe}, issn = {1867-5808}, doi = {10.25932/publishup-60564}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-605642}, pages = {24}, year = {2023}, abstract = {In nowadays production, fluctuations in demand, shortening product life-cycles, and highly configurable products require an adaptive and robust control approach to maintain competitiveness. This approach must not only optimise desired production objectives but also cope with unforeseen machine failures, rush orders, and changes in short-term demand. Previous control approaches were often implemented using a single operations layer and a standalone deep learning approach, which may not adequately address the complex organisational demands of modern manufacturing systems. To address this challenge, we propose a hyper-heuristics control model within a semi-heterarchical production system, in which multiple manufacturing and distribution agents are spread across pre-defined modules. The agents employ a deep reinforcement learning algorithm to learn a policy for selecting low-level heuristics in a situation-specific manner, thereby leveraging system performance and adaptability. We tested our approach in simulation and transferred it to a hybrid production environment. By that, we were able to demonstrate its multi-objective optimisation capabilities compared to conventional approaches in terms of mean throughput time, tardiness, and processing of prioritised orders in a multi-layered production system. The modular design is promising in reducing the overall system complexity and facilitates a quick and seamless integration into other scenarios.}, language = {en} } @article{PanzerBenderGronau2023, author = {Panzer, Marcel and Bender, Benedict and Gronau, Norbert}, title = {A deep reinforcement learning based hyper-heuristic for modular production control}, series = {International journal of production research}, journal = {International journal of production research}, publisher = {Taylor \& Francis}, address = {London}, issn = {0020-7543}, doi = {10.1080/00207543.2023.2233641}, pages = {1 -- 22}, year = {2023}, abstract = {In nowadays production, fluctuations in demand, shortening product life-cycles, and highly configurable products require an adaptive and robust control approach to maintain competitiveness. This approach must not only optimise desired production objectives but also cope with unforeseen machine failures, rush orders, and changes in short-term demand. Previous control approaches were often implemented using a single operations layer and a standalone deep learning approach, which may not adequately address the complex organisational demands of modern manufacturing systems. To address this challenge, we propose a hyper-heuristics control model within a semi-heterarchical production system, in which multiple manufacturing and distribution agents are spread across pre-defined modules. The agents employ a deep reinforcement learning algorithm to learn a policy for selecting low-level heuristics in a situation-specific manner, thereby leveraging system performance and adaptability. We tested our approach in simulation and transferred it to a hybrid production environment. By that, we were able to demonstrate its multi-objective optimisation capabilities compared to conventional approaches in terms of mean throughput time, tardiness, and processing of prioritised orders in a multi-layered production system. The modular design is promising in reducing the overall system complexity and facilitates a quick and seamless integration into other scenarios.}, language = {en} } @article{GrumBenderAlfaetal.2018, author = {Grum, Marcus and Bender, Benedict and Alfa, A. S. and Gronau, Norbert}, title = {A decision maxim for efficient task realization within analytical network infrastructures}, series = {Decision support systems : DSS ; the international journal}, volume = {112}, journal = {Decision support systems : DSS ; the international journal}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0167-9236}, doi = {10.1016/j.dss.2018.06.005}, pages = {48 -- 59}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Faced with the increasing needs of companies, optimal dimensioning of IT hardware is becoming challenging for decision makers. In terms of analytical infrastructures, a highly evolutionary environment causes volatile, time dependent workloads in its components, and intelligent, flexible task distribution between local systems and cloud services is attractive. With the aim of developing a flexible and efficient design for analytical infrastructures, this paper proposes a flexible architecture model, which allocates tasks following a machine-specific decision heuristic. A simulation benchmarks this system with existing strategies and identifies the new decision maxim as superior in a first scenario-based simulation.}, language = {en} } @article{DragičevićUllrichTsuietal.2020, author = {Dragičević, Nikolina and Ullrich, Andr{\´e} and Tsui, Eric and Gronau, Norbert}, title = {A conceptual model of knowledge dynamics in the industry 4.0 smart grid scenario}, series = {Knowledge management research \& practice : KMRP}, volume = {18}, journal = {Knowledge management research \& practice : KMRP}, number = {2}, publisher = {Taylor \& Francis}, address = {London [u.a.]}, issn = {1477-8238}, doi = {10.1080/14778238.2019.1633893}, pages = {199 -- 213}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Technological advancements are giving rise to the fourth industrial revolution - Industry 4.0 -characterized by the mass employment of smart objects in highly reconfigurable and thoroughly connected industrialproduct-service systems. The purpose of this paper is to propose a theory-based knowledgedynamics model in the smart grid scenario that would provide a holistic view on the knowledge-based interactions among smart objects, humans, and other actors as an underlyingmechanism of value co-creation in Industry 4.0. A multi-loop and three-layer - physical, virtual, and interface - model of knowledge dynamics is developedby building on the concept of ba - an enabling space for interactions and theemergence of knowledge. The model depicts how big data analytics are just one component inunlocking the value of big data, whereas the tacit engagement of humans-in-the-loop - theirsense-making and decision-making - is needed for insights to be evoked fromanalytics reports and customer needs to be met.}, language = {en} } @incollection{ThimGrumSchueffleretal.2021, author = {Thim, Christof and Grum, Marcus and Sch{\"u}ffler, Arnulf and Roling, Wiebke and Kluge, Annette and Gronau, Norbert}, title = {A concept for a distributed Interchangeable knowledge base in CPPS}, series = {Towards sustainable customization: cridging smart products and manufacturing systems}, booktitle = {Towards sustainable customization: cridging smart products and manufacturing systems}, editor = {Andersen, Ann-Louise and Andersen, Rasmus and Brunoe, Thomas Ditlev and Larsen, Maria Stoettrup Schioenning and Nielsen, Kjeld and Napoleone, Alessia and Kjeldgaard, Stefan}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Cham}, isbn = {978-3-030-90699-3}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-030-90700-6_35}, pages = {314 -- 321}, year = {2021}, abstract = {As AI technology is increasingly used in production systems, different approaches have emerged from highly decentralized small-scale AI at the edge level to centralized, cloud-based services used for higher-order optimizations. Each direction has disadvantages ranging from the lack of computational power at the edge level to the reliance on stable network connections with the centralized approach. Thus, a hybrid approach with centralized and decentralized components that possess specific abilities and interact is preferred. However, the distribution of AI capabilities leads to problems in self-adapting learning systems, as knowledgebases can diverge when no central coordination is present. Edge components will specialize in distinctive patterns (overlearn), which hampers their adaptability for different cases. Therefore, this paper aims to present a concept for a distributed interchangeable knowledge base in CPPS. The approach is based on various AI components and concepts for each participating node. A service-oriented infrastructure allows a decentralized, loosely coupled architecture of the CPPS. By exchanging knowledge bases between nodes, the overall system should become more adaptive, as each node can "forget" their present specialization.}, language = {en} }