Integrated modelling and visualisation of production systems

Future markets are going to require a greater efficiency in handling the growing complexity of tasks. Therefore, enterprises must be transformable i.e. they must be able to proactively adjust and develop corporate structures. Three prerequisites exist for an increased transformability of manufacturing systems. First of all, changes in production processes should no longer be regarded as unique processes. Instead it is necessary to develop methods and models which enable a continuous planning in manufacturing systems. Second, the planning of manufacturing systems should not be regarded as a central, out-plant procedure but as a process carried out by self-organised units in co-operation with external experts. Furthermore, solutions have to be found for updating the distributed planning know-how in manufacturing systems fo the future.