Developing process execution support for high tech manufacturing processes

This chapter describes the development of an information system to control the execution of high-tech manufacturing processes from the business process level, based on executable process models. The development is described from process analysis to requirements elicitation to the definition of executable business process, for three pilot cases in our recent HORSE project. The HORSE project aims to develop technologies for smart factories, making end-to-end high-tech manufacturing processes, in which robots and humans collaborate, more flexible, more efficient, and more effective to produce small batches of customized products. This is done through the use of Internet of Things (IoT), Industry 4.0, collaborative robot technology, dynamic manufacturing process management, and flexible task allocation between robots and humans. The result is a manufacturing process management system (MPMS) that orchestrates the manufacturing process across work cells and production lines and operates based on executable business process models defined in BPMN