Towards a Hybrid Process Model Approach in Production Systems Engineering

Context. In Production Systems Engineering (PSE), experts of different domains collaborate in loosely coupled engineering processes to collectively plan and develop an Automation System (AS). Due to limited collaboration capabilities of discipline-specific tools, engineering knowledge is often lost and needs to be recovered manually with considerable effort. Information backflow is often limited due to incompatible artifacts and engineering models. Goal. Main goal is to establish a hybrid process combined with an improved data model to overcome initial limitations of an existing engineering process. Method. In a case study at a large-scale automation engineering organization, we investigate challenges and requirements for a hybrid Engineering Process in PSE. For efficient knowledge exchange, we build on a Product, Process, and Resource (PPR) concept that aims at bridging the gap between engineering disciplines, project phases, and artifacts. Results. The proposed hybrid process improved knowledge exchange and backflows and allows experts to maintain planning processes within their scope. Conclusions. Although the PPR concept was found useful, initial effort is needed for analyzing processes and data for PPR concept implementation.