Combining Channel Theory and Semantic Web Technology to build up a Production Capability Matching Framework

One of the main theories behind the worldwide 'Factories of the Future' movement is the idea that machines and systems, and thus the production system, should reach a certain level of self-organisation. We support this self-organisation of the production system by introducing a production capability matching framework that is based on an extended application of Channel Theory combined with the extensive use of Semantic Web technologies like OWL ontologies and rules based on SWRL. This approach shows that the combination of Channel Theory and Semantic Web technology is able to lay the groundwork for an automated equipment assignment process in global and local value chains.