ESPRIT Project 25226
MUSSELS
Multi Stages Enterprises Logistic Control System
Public Annual Report
Period: 1st October 1997 - 30th September 1998
Contract start date:
Contract termination date:
Document Title:
Document Identification:
Document Filename:
Authors:
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Date:
st
1 October 1997
th
30 September 2000
Public Annual Report
MS/P/WP1/GR/V1
pubannual.doc
Armando Brandolese - Omega
Cristina Chizzoni- Omega
Giulia Romano - Omega
Final
th
24 November 1998
ESPRIT PROJECT 25226 - MUSSELS
Public Annual Report – First year
Final
Version1
Table of contents
1.
PROJECT OBJECTIVES ............................................................................................................................. 3
2.
PROJECT OVERVIEW................................................................................................................................ 3
3.
METHODOLOGIES ..................................................................................................................................... 4
4.
PROJECT ACHIEVEMENTS .................................................................................................................... 4
4.1
4.2
4.3
ACCOMPLISHED MILESTONES AND DELIVERABLES .................................................................................... 4
WORK PROGRESS OVERVIEW..................................................................................................................... 5
BRIEF ACCOUNT OF PLANNED WORK FOR THE NEXT REPORTING PERIOD ................................................... 7
5
CONTACTS ESTABLISHED WITH OTHER RELATED PROJECTS (NATIONAL AND
INTERNATIONAL) .............................................................................................................................................. 8
6
RESULTS RELATED TO STANDARDS.................................................................................................... 8
7
BENEFITS TO SOCIETY ............................................................................................................................ 9
8
INFORMATION ON DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES ........................................................................... 9
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Project objectives
The objective of MUSSELS is the realization of a general logistic control system for multi site
and multi stage environment. It will be able to overtake the problems of the traditional
Production Planning and Control (PP&C) approaches, increasing the co-ordination level
between the actors of the logistic chain, making them able to act as a virtual enterprise.
Nevertheless, it will not disregard the success factors of the already existing production
management tools (MRP II, short term scheduling, JIT, etc.).
Different, but integrated, modules will build up the tool. They will be able to run
autonomously as well as in connection with already existing PP&C systems.
The whole system will be customizable by system integrators to be used in different
industries.
Two pilot applications for the plastic manufacturing and the tyres industry (the sectors of the
two Industrial Partners) will be completed.
MUSSELS has no real competing product on the market, due to the lack of a software product
matching the completeness and sophistication of MUSSELS. There are of course some
external competing single-field products, but they do not integrate the functions MUSSELS
will provide for managing all the acting players of the logistic chain as a single virtual
enterprise.
The Consortium will exploit the product and the project’s results by mean of both direct and
focused dissemination.
2.
Project overview
MUSSELS’ characteristics and functionalities have been fixed in “User Requirements”. The
document deals as well with the description of the Industrial Partners logistic and production
situation and their specific requirements.
The MUSSELS Consortium described a conceptual model of the customer and supplier needs
in a generic virtual enterprise or supply chain in the “General Model”. Besides the general
MUSSELS architecture, the Consortium inserted in it detailed functional specifications of
each of the four MUSSELS modules, and data base functional architecture. Such model was
illustrated and validated by case studies.
In fact, the Consortium produced as well two case studies, respectively on the hat
manufacturing industry in the UK and its supply chains and a case study performed within the
area of Kanban production, describing a real industrial scenario with a small supply-chain
network around a wheelchair manufacturer.
The Consortium produced a Software Quality Assurance Manual based on the IEEE Standard
for Software Quality Assurance Plans (IEEE Std 730.1-1989). The plan has been created with
sufficient flexibility to adapt, as widely as possible, to the requirements of individual project
parts and project partners.
Each partner dealing with software design and development has carried out its activities first
incorporating the user requirements into the specific functionalities of each module and then
carrying out the design phase of the software modules. Therefore there have been produced
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documents containing Functional Specifications of the main modules that will constitute the
MUSSELS system.
3. Methodologies
The methodology followed by the consortium in order to achieve project objectives started
from the user requirements definition. When developing the User Requirements document the
approach followed was “bottom-up”, i.e. the Industrial Partners requirements were firstly
considered and used as a basis to identify more general requirements. Thanks to the partners
experience it was then possible to integrate Industrial Partners’ needs and to identify a through
set of requirements, that is being validated from the User Group and by means of study cases
in selected companies.
The MUSSELS requirements are an operative input for the software development phases.
From User Requirements an exhaustive General Model has been developed; it has the
function of being a strong and unique reference for the different modules that constitute the
MUSSELS system.
In order to shorten lead times and to improve integration among WPs, in this project a
concurrent approach has been adopted: functionalities of each Module are divided into two
classes: Basic functions and Full functions. Basic functions are concerned with the behaviour of
the Module as a black box: the Module has to take inputs from outside (human users, other
Mussels Modules, Information System of the User) and yield a meaningful output to the other
parts of the system. On the other side, it is up to the Full Functions part to specify how to
improve the module output, inserting more sophisticated logics and algorithms. Therefore, all
the four Modules are structured so that, after having defined SW Basic functions specifications,
SW Basic functions development start, without waiting for SW Full functions specifications.
The reference guide that the Consortium follows is the Software Quality Assurance Plan
(SQAP). It covers the whole software development process within the MUSSELS project.
Some parts of the SQAP are binding for all project partners; other parts serve as a guideline, on
which an individual partner will base his individual plans.
4. Project achievements
Here following there are some details on the work carried out during the period: 1st October
1997 - 30th September 1998. The summary focuses on the achievements realised during the
relevant months of the project life.
4.1
Accomplished milestones and deliverables
The MUSSELS Project Programme for this first period of work had planned the completion
of two deliverables; indeed, by the 31st March 1998, the first deliverable has been sent to the
ESPRIT Project Officer and by the end of September the second deliverable has been
completed, too.
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More in detail the contents of the “First Deliverable” was concerned with “User requirements”
that have been collected on the basis of Mussels reference architecture needs, as well as on the
basis of the various modules that form the Mussels system.
Another important report for the Consortium has been the “Quality Manual”, which is
intended to be a guide for the project participants during the MUSSELS project development.
The Manual will contain all the relevant information for securing a common understanding of
the ways and means to be applied during project execution and to assure the quality of the
work performed within the project.
The content of the “Second deliverable” dealt with findings related to the “Mussels General
Model”. The document contains details on the Virtual Enterprise Settings as well as on the
Virtual Enterprise/Supply Chain Reference Model.
Other relevant advancements of the project are contained in the report on Functional
Specifications for the main Mussels modules. Information on the software structure, the
appropriate interfaces and all the necessary data for the implementation are available.
Finally, as far as the relationships among the partners are concerned, an important result is
constituted by the “Intellectual Property Rights Agreement”. This is a document that states the
rules for the partners during the project, and after the project completion, with regard to the
circulation and the exploitation of the project outputs.
The above reports correspond also to the accomplishment of both the 1st Milestone “User
Requirements” and the 2nd Milestone “General Model and Case Studies”.
4.2
Work progress overview
During the first twelve months of the project, the Consortium has carried out those tasks that
had been planned in the Project Programme for such period.
The following is a list of the wps the Consortium has been working on during the past twelve
months; for each of them a short remark on the main activities is added.
WP01 “Project Management”
At the beginning of the Project, the Project Manager carried out a significant initial effort to
start a homogenous work with all the partners. His efforts were, then, devoted to put together
different partners’ point of view and interests with regard to an IPR Agreement. The most
relevant result of this first year has been the production of an “ Intellectual Property Rights
Agreement ” which has been approved by all the partners.
WP02 “User Requirements Specifications”
This workpackage, together with General Model, is the core of product definition. The activity,
indeed, has started from customers needs acquired both from the two Industrial Partners and
from practical cases developed with different Members of the User Group.
The Final Release of User Requirements is a document made up of three parts: the first one General User Requirements - fixes, both from the theoretical and the practical points of view,
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MUSSELS characteristics and functionalities; the second and third sections are dedicated to a
description of the Industrial Partners logistic and production situation and contain specific
requirements.
WP03 “Case Studies and General Model”
The final version of the General Model was completed as part of the Second Deliverable. It
represents the General Model of MUSSELS (WP03). The purpose of this work-package is to
define from the theoretical and practical point of view a reference model that will serve as the
basis for the development of the MUSSELS tool.
Moreover, during the first year the consortium selected a significant pool of companies
willing to contribute to the definition of the Mussels system as well as to validate the solutions
adopted. They have formed the MUSSELS User Group. The collection of information from
the case studies has also been carried out, thus constituting further input for the model
development. Case studies are mainly located in the UK and in Germany.
The General Model describes a conceptual and functional architecture of MUSSELS
within a Virtual Enterprise (VE) reference scheme. The basis for developing this model is the
‘User Requirements’ document. It will be illustrated and validated in a subsequent deliverable
by means of case studies. Eventually a methodology handbook (WP 03 – D6T3.1.2) will
consolidate, towards project completion, the MUSSELS methodology and the experiences
gained with its implementation within the MUSSELS Pilots.
WP04 “Exploitation and Showroom Laboratory”
This workpackage faces all marketing aspects, from the set-up of a Show room Laboratory to
the definition of a Marketing Plan.
Activities have been carried out in order to prepare the showroom laboratory as well as to
evaluate Mussels competitive products on the market. Moreover, the first draft of the
MUSSELS dissemination kit (brochure, slides, and summaries) is being developed together
with the official MUSSELS Web Site. However, the most relevant activity for this
workpackage has been the production of a marketing strategy document that will be used to
make visible the current approach and status of work concerning MUSSELS marketing and
exploitation activities. It contains:
 a comprehensive marketing strategy of the MUSSELS product components, which should
cover the overall marketing framework and all internal and external environment
constraints and constituencies,
 the approach of how the consortium will implement and perform the marketing strategy by
use of an exploitation plan to identify and organise the activities to be carried out in order
to promote the commercial exploitation of all results and the widest dissemination of
knowledge from the project,
 the results currently available like market and customer analysis, product profile or
summary of all performed exploitation activities.
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WP05 “Multi-Site/Multi-Enterprise Logistic Chain Analizer”
WP06 “Multi Site/Multi Stage Planning and Scheduling System”
WP07 “Kanban-based Shop Control System”
WP08 “Multimedia Systems & User Training”
The development of the project is shared among these four Modules. Each of them comprises
software specification, software development, and software test.
Logistic Chain Analyzer (WP05) contains tools to measure the performances of the different
Actors of the Logistic Chain, and of the Logistic Chain itself as a whole, in order to analyse the
initial situation and to foster continuous improvement.
Multi-site Multi-stage Planner & Scheduling System (WP06), and Kanban-based Shop Control
System (WP07) contain the engine of the system both for medium term production planning
(WP06) and for shop floor short time scheduling and control (WP07).
Multimedia Systems & User Training (WP08) is especially thought for training purposes to
support and enhance the skills of final users, preparing them to use the human interfaces.
During the first year of activity, the necessary functionality in terms of communication and
interfaces has been defined for each sub-module. The software development activities started
in a full time way; in particular, the programming of the basic functions for each module
started in the past months. As far as WP08 is concerned, a prototype of the “Electronic Book”
component has been developed, and subsequent evaluation gave a proof of concept and a
refined specification. At this stage, a Microsoft Word document can be transformed
reasonably completely into a fully functional online document, including navigation and
browsing facilities as well as support for static pictures and objects.
WP10 “Quality and Standards”
This workpackage has the objective of guaranteeing the compliance of MUSSELS’ software
modules with software and quality standards.
The Project Information Manual (PIM) was developed. The PIM is intended to be a guide for
the project participants during the MUSSELS project development. The PIM contains all the
relevant information for securing a common understanding of the ways and means to be
applied during project execution and to assure the quality of the work performed within the
project. The PIM is intended for use only by the MUSSELS Project Consortium and is
continuously revised and updated according to needs.
4.3
Brief account of planned work for the next reporting period
The next twelve months of the project will be mainly devoted to:
 The show-room installation
 The preparation of the market study
 Basic functions development of the four main SW modules of the MUSSELS
product
 Definition of the advanced functions
 Starting of full functions development
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 Test of the basic functions of the software modules at the show room
 Test of the basic functions of the software modules by the pilot sites.
In parallel, the exploitation and marketing activity will continue with a draft of a marketing
and exploitation plan that will enable the Consortium to take initiatives on how the
MUSSELS product can reach the market of final users.
5
Contacts established with other related projects
(national and international)
The Consortium has intensive contacts and exchange of information with other ESPRIT
projects and with national initiatives related to the MUSSELS activity. Following, the list of
the European projects:
 ESPRIT Project 20544 X-CITTIC RIC: the knowledge in supply chain management and
the modelling experience of the RIC project has been used in building the requirement
analysis for WP05;
 ESPRIT Project 8865 Real-I-CIM: here MUSSELS benefits from the simulation part and
planning methods;
 ESPRIT Project 22038 ‘Advanced IT Infrastucture for Accurate Response in the Extended
Enterprise’ (AITEAR). Lead partner: Dr. Henrique O’Neill, Edifico ISCTE, Portugal;
 ESPRIT Project 26736 ‘Performance Measurement System for Total Quality
Management’ (TQM-Tile) Lead partner: Mr. Jose Heredia, Universitat Jaume I., Spain;
 ESPRIT Project 26805 ‘Advanced Tools for Integrated Supply Chain MANagement in
European SME’s’ (CHAMAN) Lead partner: Mr. V. Sebastian, ETRA I+D, Spain;
 ESPRIT Project 20568 PRODNET and 22647 PRODNET II: they have provided
information and articles concerning the definition of Virtual Enterprises for development
of the initial sections of the General Model;
 ESPRIT Project 22381 VENTO: this project has been contacted to develop the business
process modelling and analyse the opportunity of application of different standards
As far as national projects are concerned, two relevant contacts are:
 The link with a MURST (Ministero dell’Università e della Ricerca Scientifica e
Tecnologica) project “COSPI” dealing with advanced manufacturing planning and control
system based on multi-agent architectures. In particular the user cases developed for
COSPI turned out useful to check the completeness of the basic function documents.
Information and other exchanges between the two projects will continue in the next few
months.
 The commitment of one partner who carried out a survey of the UK hatmaking industry
for the DTI and British Hat Guild. A report has been presented to the industry at a
workshop. In their response to the report, the industry identified supply chain management
as the most urgent area for improvement, but also as the area where it was most difficult to
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make progress. The industry is to take initiatives on leadership, training and innovation,
and is to continue discussions with the DTI about supply chain issues.
6
Results related to standards
The Software
standardisation
standardisation
initiatives in
management).
Quality Assurance Plan (SQAP) is the link of Mussels to relevant
initiatives (i.e. to understand how Mussels' results could feed in
work or vice versa how Mussels work could exploit from standardisation
areas such as e-commerce, product data interchange, and workflow
It is important to stress that the SQAP was not intended to contribute to the standard
development activities. Rather, MUSSELS relies on previously defined standards.
7
Benefits to society
MUSSELS can contribute to enhance the competitiviness of those European enterprises that
will use the software by increasing their productivity, improve their logistic values, resource
utilisation, stock reduction, shorten lead times, meet due dates, increase service level through
capacity balancing between the layers of the supply chain, even taking into account the
transportation capacities.
This is very useful especially for those European enterprises that work in an environment
based on important and frequent relationships with suppliers.
8
Information on dissemination activities
Efforts have been devoted to the circulation of information about MUSSELS work outside the
Consortium.
Cranfield University has some planning in progress to host a workshop for the members of the
Central Logistics Association for Supply-Chain Partnerships (CLASP) network during final
quarter 1998. Cranfield has, in addition, arranged for information about MUSSELS and the
UK user group to be hosted on the CLASP web site at http://www.clasp.org.uk.
Cranfield University has carried out negotiations with the Institute of Logistics to participate,
on behalf of the MUSSELS Consortium, in the Logistics Research Network. The Logistics
Research Network provides a forum for the exchange of research ideas, developments and
findings in the fields of Logistics and Supply Chain Management. Participation may include
conference presentations with include poster sessions, workshops, and discussion groups for
dissemination of the MUSSELS project.
Cranfield University has submitted a Paper for 1st publication in ICIMS-News.
Cranfield University has held a series of individual meetings with participants in the UK user
group, collecting their points of view on user requirements and preparing an agenda for a full
meeting of the user group to be held early in 1999.
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Even if the activity concerning the production of promotional material useful for
dissemination is not officially started, the Consortium has already carried out some actions.
During the first six months of project life, ISA had, for example, already created a web site for
internal and external communications; in the most recent months they have continued with its
maintenance and improvement adding new useful features.
(WWW.ISA.DE/EN/CIM/PROJECTS/MUSSELS)
A test brochure is already available, while other materials forming the dissemination kit such
as the logo, a poster and marketing presentations are under study or preparation. In the next
future, a newsletter will be available directly from the web site for those who request it.
The Consortium has devoted time to contact organizations willing to take part to the
MUSSELS User Group. The main aim of this group is the validation of the user requirements
that in this way will answer not only to specific needs of the two industrial users of the
project, but also to more general industrial needs. The contacts have had the effect of
informing a large number of industrial organizations in Italy, Germany and UK of the
existence of the project and of its relevance.
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