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This paper aims to propose a framework for building a flexible supply chain business model using an object‐oriented approach.

The proposed modeling framework has used the de facto object‐oriented modeling standard, Unified Modeling Language (UML), for building a supply chain model. To compensate for the potential weakness of the pure object‐oriented model and UML, the framework integrates business rules with its model.

This paper provides information about several sources, which are the bases of modeling a supply chain. The paper regards a supply chain as five view models with four business domains and each domain consists of functions, resources, processes, interactions and business rules.

A typical manufacturing supply chain is considered as a target system to apply this design methodology. The paper does not handle a real case study as an application example.

This paper newly added the category of “Business Process Reengineering (BPR)‐driven” models to the traditional taxonomy of supply chain models and proposed an object‐oriented business model (OOBM) for a supply chain as one of the BPR‐driven models. It is hoped that this modeling approach is highly usable and adds value to an analyst, practitioner, and designer in the field of supply chain.

Plant configuration management systems address all phases of the plant’s life cycle, from engineering design, re‐design, maintenance, to operations. However, as yet little research has been reported on plant configuration management information systems analysis. During the past decade, the object‐oriented approach has received much attention in information systems development. This paper describes an object structure for plant configuration management systems analysis. Three major aspects of configuration management (maintenance, re‐design change, and business process) and fundamental types of objects engaged in configuration management are described. The association between these objects is then built through identifying the messages between the objects. Practical application of this framework shows that it is useful for the analysis and design of a plant configuration management information system.

This paper focuses on a conceptual methodology for an integrated simulation model dubbed as dynamic simulation modelling system (DSMS) for proactive and optimal decision making within a project management framework. Due to the uncertainties in project environment, the technical and operational functionality of a facility needs to be assessed during development and operation phases of the project. The simulation model is used for optimising the investment decisions vis‐à‐vis evaluation of functionalities on project facilities in early stages of the project. Project life cycle objective functions (LCOFs) are employed as a set of decision criteria throughout the project’s life. The discussion is being extended on the need for setting up an integrated and user‐friendly model to encompass the processes in the entire life cycle of the project. Details of the system are described and a hypothetical case study is used to demonstrate its capabilities. Possible extensions are then outlined. The C++ programming language in association with the object‐oriented database management system is used to achieve the aforementioned objectives.

An object oriented finite element model is presented. The main advantage of this model over conventional systems is that, the additional code required for adding elements to the finite element library is minimal. The powerful mechanisms provided by object oriented systems facilitate this. These mechanisms enable re‐use of existing code, and allow the programmer to leave certain operations to the computer, which, without object oriented techniques, would not have been possible. In the above model, the finite elements are represented in the form of a hierarchical tree by which it is possible to develop elements by programming only the differences from existing elements. Suitable object oriented designs have been developed for representing mathematical entities like differential operators and shape functions, with a view to automating the process of development of element properties, so that, the element developer needs to specify just the minimum details, leaving most of the operations to the computer. Some of the concepts in object oriented programming are explained in detail, with the examples used in the above model.

This study aims at improving the constructability of design solutions by inte grating site construction problems, which are related to the design, with the design's main functions. A full process analysis was carried out on the design functions of concrete framed office buildings whereby site problems were traced back to the relevant design stages. Design processes that significantly contribute to these problems were highlighted, along with their data flows. An object‐oriented analysis (OOA) method was then applied to model those processes. Proceedings through the five major activities of Coad & Yourdon's OOA method, a complete OOA model was developed. This technique has proved to be very effective in producing a well structured data model with the consequence of being easily mapped into an object‐oriented development environment. An integrated object‐oriented system was also developed, which attempts to use essential design information, at an early stage of the design process, to improve the constructability of the design.

Object‐oriented programming, as an alternative to traditional, procedural programming methods for finite element analysis, is growing rapidly in importance as algorithms and programs become more complex. This paper reviews some of the literature and seeks to explain some of the concepts of object‐oriented thinking most useful to the finite element programmer, using as an example a C++ implementation of a heat transfer and solidification program.

This paper addressed an object‐oriented modeling of the quality control information system (QCIS) and its implementation for small‐medium sized enterprises (SMEs). The major idea is to convert the data structure, system behavior and computational aspect of the QCIS into models: object, dynamic and functional models using the object‐oriented modeling technique in a user‐friendly and economical way. Then, based on an SME environment, the paper expounds the methodology by implementing the models into a computerized QCIS. The system is expected to be affordable and self‐developed by most SMEs. The system can manipulate quality data dynamically to keep the quality control information up to date. It can guarantee different types of charts, lists and reports in the support of quick quality decision making with minimal human efforts.

As manufacturing systems change from island of automation to enterprise‐wise integration, object‐oriented database and database management systems have many superior features to meet the new requirements. Based on the comparison with relational databases, this paper discusses the selections and characteristics of the object‐oriented database and database management systems (OODBMS) in manufacturing and summarizes the current studies and applications. It helps managers to choose appropriate OODBMS products based on the degree of complexity of their firm’s entity and data items. It provides a direction for future research.

The purpose of this paper is to address the capture and documentation of essential design for manufacture (DFM) pieces of information to make design decisions. Essential manufacturing information is that which can affect the fulfilment of functional requirements and product constraints. The hierarchical structure of the main components for the open architecture‐process planning model (PPM), manufacturing activity model (MAM) and manufacturing resource model (MRM) are discussed The aim of the approach is to define manufacturing knowledge structures and develop a knowledge‐based application for DFM.

This work addresses the capture and documentation of essential DFM pieces of information to make design decisions. Essential manufacturing information is that which can affect the fulfilment of functional requirements and product constraints. The hierarchical structure of the main components for the open architecture‐PPM, MAM and MRM are discussed. The aim of the approach is to define manufacturing knowledge structures and develop a knowledge‐based application for DFM.

This paper gives details of the application framework development by integrating object‐oriented technology and component‐based development. This will help to achieve large‐scale software reuse for manufacturing application development projects. This paper also gives an overview of a computer system for automated concurrent engineering, and more particularly, to a method for the concurrent design of parts, tools and processes.

The workability of this approach was tested in a machine‐tool manufacturing firm and the same has been presented as a case.

This paper gives a bibliographical review of the finite element and boundary element parallel processing techniques from the theoretical and application points of view. Topics include: theory – domain decomposition/partitioning, load balancing, parallel solvers/algorithms, parallel mesh generation, adaptive methods, and visualization/graphics; applications – structural mechanics problems, dynamic problems, material/geometrical non‐linear problems, contact problems, fracture mechanics, field problems, coupled problems, sensitivity and optimization, and other problems; hardware and software environments – hardware environments, programming techniques, and software development and presentations. The bibliography at the end of this paper contains 850 references to papers, conference proceedings and theses/dissertations dealing with presented subjects that were published between 1996 and 2002.