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International audience; Collaborative robots (cobots) have the potential to augment the productivity and life quality of human operators in the context of Industry 4.0 by providing them with physical assistance. For this reason, it is necessary to define the relationship between humans and cobots and to study how the two agents adapt to each other. However, to the best of our knowledge, literature is still missing insight into how humans perceive and react to changes in the cobot behavior (e.g. changes in the learned trajectory and in the role the robot assumes). Specifically, a study of how humans adapt to changing roles and control strategies of collaborating robots is missing. To fill this gap, we propose a human study in which 16 participants executed a collaborative human-robot sawing task where the cobot altered between three different control strategies. We examinedhuman adaptation when cobot suddenly changed the control strategy from one to another, resulting in six experimental conditions. The experiments were performed on a setup involving Kuka LBR iiwa robotic arm. The results suggest that transition influences movement performance in the early stages and at steady state, subjects prefer to abandon modes that require more effort and they adapt faster to energy-demanding modes. Finally, for the specific task we studied, subjects tend to prefer collaborative modes to ones in which the robot assumes a fixed role.

International audience; Scheduling production is an important decision issue in the manufacturing domain. With the advent of the era of Industry 4.0, the basic generation of schedules becomes no longer sufficient to face the new constraints of flexibility and agility that characterize the new architecture of production systems. In this context, schedules must take into account an increasingly disrupted environment while maintaining a good performance level. This paper contributes to the identified field of smart manufacturing scheduling by proposing a complete process for assessing the robustness of schedule solutions: i.e., its ability to resist to uncertainties. This process focuses on helping the decision maker in choosing the best scheduling strategy to be implemented. It aims at considering the impact of uncertainties on the robustness performance of predictive schedules. Moreover, it is assumed that data upcoming from connected workshops are available, such that uncertainties can be identified and modelled by stochastic variables This process is supported by stochastic timed automata for modelling these uncertainties. The proposed approach is thus based on Stochastic Discrete Event Systems models and model checking techniques defining a highly reusable and modular process. The solution process is illustrated on an academic example and its performance (generecity and scalability) are deeply evaluated using statistical analysis. The proposed application of the evaluation process is based on the technological opportunities offered by the Industry 4.0.

International audience; When a human is interacting physically with a robot to accomplish a task, his/her posture is inevitably influenced by the robot movement. Since the human is not controllable, an active robot imposing a collaborative trajectory should predict the most likely human posture. This prediction should consider individual differences and preferences of movement execution, and it is necessary to evaluate the impact of the robot's action from the point of view of ergonomics. Here, we propose a method to predict, in probabilistic terms, the human postures of an individual for a given robot trajectory executed in a collaborative scenario. We formalize the problem as the prediction of the human joints velocity given the current posture and robot end-effector velocity. Previous approaches to solve this problem relied on the inverse kinematics, but did not consider the human body redundancy nor the kinematic constraints imposed by the physical collaboration, nor any prior observations of the human movement execution. We propose a data-driven approach that addresses these limits. The key idea of our algorithm is to learn the distribution of the null space of the Jacobian and the weights of the weighted pseudo-inverse from demonstrated human movements: both carry information about human postural preferences, to leverage redundancy and ensure that the predicted posture will be coherent with the endeffector position. We show in a simulated toy problem and on real human-robot interaction data that our method outperforms model-based inverse kinematics prediction, sample-based prediction and regression methods that do not consider geometric constraints. Our method is validated on a a collaboration scenario with a human interacting physically with the Franka robot.

Published in IFAC-PaperOnLine 54(1):1168-1173, 2021; International audience; Industry 4.0 reflects a new area for production workshops. This new concept aims to bring more flexibility and agility to the production shop floor. In this context, the scheduling problem is an important issue. In fact, a proposed schedule has to guarantee a high performance level able to take into consideration the several changes and perturbations occurring in the workshop. The proposed approaches usually aims to find a robust schedule capable of optimizing some criteria with considering a perturbation. With the new requirements of the workshop and the importance of decision making when implementing the schedule, it is essential to extend the robust scheduling problem to be adaptable to the needs of the decision maker in evaluating several properties. We propose, in this paper, a robust scheduling framework based on a robustness specification. The paper gives also the using of this framework in a decision making context.

Published in IFAC-PapersOnLine (51)11:758-763, 2018; International audience; This work is a positioning research paper for energy efficient building based on ICT solutions. Through the literature about the solutions for energy control of buildings during operational phase, a 3-layers model is proposed to integrate these solutions: first level consists in communication technologies, second level is about data modelling and third level is related to decision-making tools. For each level, key research topics and remaining problems are identified in order to achieve a concrete step forward. 1. CONTEXT AND PROBLEMATICS Through studies on ICT solutions for energy control of buildings, a 3-layers model is proposed to integrate these solutions and position a new way for energy efficiency. The building sector is the largest user of energy and CO 2 emitter in the EU, estimated at approximately 40% of the total consumption (Sharples et al., 1999). According to the International Panel on Climate Change (European Union, 2010), 30% of energy used in buildings could be reduced with net economic benefits by 2030. Such a reduction, however, is meaningless unless "sustainability" is considered. Because of these factors, healthy, sustainable, and energy efficient buildings have become active topics in international research; there is an urgent need for a new kind of high-technology driven and integrative research that should lead to the massive development of smart buildings and, in the medium term, smart cities. From a building lifecycle perspective, most of the energy (~80%) is consumed during the operational stage of the building (European Union, 2010) (Bilsen et al., 2013). Reducing building energy consumption may be addressed by the physical modifications which can be operated on a building like upgrading windows, heating systems or modifying thermic characteristics by insulating. Another possible path to reduce the energy consumption of a building is to use Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). According to the International Panel on Climate Change, a reduction of energy even greater than the 30% can be targeted by 2030 by considering ICT solutions. In support of this claim, some specialists believe that ICT-based solutions have the potential to enable 50-80% greenhouse gas reduction globally. In this respect, ICT innovation opens prospects for the development of a new range of new services highly available, flexible, safe, easy to integrate, and user friendly (Bilsen et al., 2013). This, in turn, should foster a sophisticated, reliable and fast communication infrastructure for the connection of various distributed elements (sensors, generators, substations...) that enables to exchange real-time data, information and knowledge needed to improve efficiency (e.g., to monitor and control energy consumption), reliability (e.g., to facilitate maintenance operations), flexibility (e.g., to integrate new rules to meet new consumer expectations), and investment returns, but also to induce a shift in consumer behaviour.

Published in IFAC-PapersOnLine, 51(7):271-276, 2018; International audience; Discrete Event Systems (DES) have already proved their efficiency to model and solve scheduling production problems in the field of manufacturing systems. Their main asset is the capacity to represent the dynamic behavior of workshops.The stochastic extensions of DES models offers, actually, interesting characteristics to take into consideration the perturbations in scheduling. In this paper, we propose to use a stochastic DES approach (using stochastic timed automata) to evaluate the robustness of schedules under perturbations. The perturbations that are considered are the machine failures with uncertain reparation duration.

International audience; The current Internet-of-things (IoT) hype, pushed by the unprecedented rate of the technological enablers’ innovation, is threatening to leave behind some major, not so obvious, unresolved issues. IoT platforms will extend existing enterprise information systems (EIS) infrastructures to encompass cross-domain sensing and actuating capabilities, thus introducing additional complexity and major risks to the implementation. Furthermore, IoT platforms are typically driven by models of the trivial complexity; they support very simple data structures and almost no business logic implementation. Finally, IoT systems are today managed centrally, which often means less openness, less flexibility and greater change management costs. In this article, we provide the overview of the scientific disciplines which could contribute to the resolution of the IoT implementation problem, namely requirements engineering, change management/continuous improvement, model-based systems engineering, system architecture design, interoperability and policy and regulatory aspects. Then, we identify the challenges of these contributions in the context of IoT and finally make an attempt to identify research directions which could have a significant impact. The discussion of the challenges and opportunities is illustrated by the proposed domain framework for implementation of open IoT ecosystems.

Published in IFAC-PapersOnline, 51(11):921-926, 2018; International audience; Six sigma is a well-assessed methodology for optimizing the performance of the enterprise through the reduction of the variability of their process outputs. Six sigma implementation consists of the development of the DMAIC phases to improve existent processes. Each phase of this methodology adopts statistical as well as qualitative tools to fix variability sources and assess the process to a six sigma level of quality. However, there is a lack of an implementation model on how to guide effectively the implementation of the methodology DMAIC. This is particularly true for SMEs that not have enough human resources for supporting the needed knowledge. To answer to this limitation of six sigma, the objective of this paper is to present a framework to support the implementation of six sigma approach in SMEs. This framework is formalized by a meta-model, which is based on different studies on six sigma, its phases and its tools. This framework aims to propose a solution to validate the passage between the DMAIC phases defining the requirements to be satisfied during each phase.

Published in Service Orientation in Holonic and Multi-Agent Manufacturing, Borangiu T., Trentesaux D., Thomas A., Cardin O. (eds). Studies in Computational Intelligence, vol 762, pp. 345-357, Springer, Cham; International audience; Industry 4.0 implies new scheduling problems linked to the optimal using of flexible resources and to mass customisation of products. In this context, first research results show that Discrete Event Systems models and tools are a relevant alternative to the classical approaches for modelling scheduling problems and for solving them. Moreover, the challenges of the industry 4.0 mean taking into account the uncertainties linked to the mass customisation (volume and mix of the demand) but also to the states of the resources (failures, operation durations,. . .). The goal of this paper is to show how it is possible to use the simulation based on statistical model checking for taking into account these uncertainties and for evaluating the robustness of a given schedule.

International audience; Global competitiveness has challenged manufacturing industry to rationalize different ways of bringing to the market new products in a short lead-time with competitive prices, high quality, and customization. Modern Product Development Process (PDP) has been requiring simultaneously collaboration of multiple groups, exchanging information from multiple perspectives within and across enterprise boundaries. However, semantic interoperability issues (misinterpretation and mistakes) in view of the information heterogeneity from multiple perspectives and their relationships. This research proposes a semantic reconciliation view to support the interoperable information relationships in product design and manufacturing. This view is part of the conceptual framework of an Interoperable Product Design and Manufacturing System (IPDMS). The semantic reconciliation method uses three approaches (Adjustment Context, Ontology Intersection, and Semantic Alignment) to provide support for the semantic information relationships across the product design and manufacturing. The method is applied in a rotational thin-wall plastic injected design and manufacturing and evaluated through the development of semantic rules responsible for the information mapping of sharing, conversion and translation. This semantic rules were modeled in Semantic Web Rule Language (SWRL) supported by Web Ontology Languages (OWL). Sequentially, the potential benefits and limitation of the method was discussed, contributing to the semantic information interoperability during the development of complex products.

Published in IFAC-PapersOnLine, 50(1):1225-1230, July 2017; International audience; This paper investigates the relevance of modeling workshop scheduling problems using a Discrete Event System (DES) approach based on timed automata (TA). To realize this study, the DES approach is compared with a classical approach based on Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP). In order to compare these two modeling approaches, an evaluation system is proposed based on: (i) a problem instances generation system using the classical three-fields notation of Graham (alpha|beta|gamma), (ii) a measurement system based on three criteria and associated metrics: complexity, genericity and scalability. This system covers the most common problems when dealing with flexible workshop scheduling. The results obtained by the application of the method is finally discussed.

International audience; Global competitiveness challenges manufacturing industry to rationalise different ways of bringing to the market new products in a short lead-time with competitive prices while ensuring higher quality levels and customisation. Industries need to effectively share heterogeneous information during Product Development Process (PDP) within and across their institutional boundaries to be competitive. However, problems with misinterpretation and mistakes have been identified during information exchange due to the semantic interoperability obstacles. Thus, this research proposes a systematic literature review to identify the main researches and the milestones reference works on semantic interoperability field. A rigorous methodology was conducted in different databases, covering the articles published in scientific journals from 2005 to 2015 as a preliminary study had indicated that the incidence of articles related to the subject was more frequent from the second half of the 2000s. The research structure consisted of four steps: Survey-searching, analysis and selection of recent researches; Categorization-categorization of the selected papers; References citation frequency analysis-the selected papers were analysed and the main researches and milestones references were identified; and Main researches critical analysis – the main researches were analysed for their contributions and limitations, their contributions and limitations, resulting in 14 selected scientific articles and 8 identified milestones references. It is evident that this field has interesting perspectives on future research opportunities on semantic interoperability of information issues across PDP, contributing to the new concepts of future factories.

Une nouvelle économie axée sur l’utilisation plus efficiente des biens a vu le jour au cours des dernières années : l’économie collaborative. Désormais présente et fleurissante dans de nombreuses sphères de l’économie française, cette nouvelle réalité a entraîné son lot de préoccupations. L’une d’elles, moins traitée en France, est le fait que ces plateformes constituent un terreau fertile pour les pratiques discriminatoires. Puisqu’elles requièrent généralement l’affichage d’une photo, d’un profil public et de nombreuses informations personnelles, certains préjugés et stéréotypes enracinés dans la conscience collective sont susceptibles d’entrer en jeu et d’entraîner des différences de traitements. Dans ce texte, l’auteur examine l’applicabilité et l’efficacité des mécanismes français de protection contre la discrimination face à ces risques. Autrement dit, ces mécanismes sont-ils adaptés à la nouvelle réalité proposée par les Airbnb, Uber et BlaBlaCar de ce monde ? A new economy based on the efficient use of goods has emerged in recent years : the sharing economy. Now flowering in many spheres of the French economy, this new reality has led to many concerns. One of them, less discussed in France, is the fact that these collaborative platforms provide a fertile ground for discrimination. Given the fact that they generally require the display of a photo, a public profile and many personal informations, prejudices and stereotypes rooted in the collective consciousness may come into play and lead to adverse treatments. In this text, the author analyzes the applicability and effectiveness of the protection against discrimination to these risks. In other words, are these mechanisms adapted to the new reality proposed by the Airbnb, Uber and BlaBlaCar of this world ?

Published in Procedia Engineering 180:812-82, 2017; International audience; An exhibition system is typically a physical open space made of several buildings devoted to performing demonstrations or social activities. Several examples of exhibition systems can be found word wide. The management of these spaces, even in presence of a limited number of activities, requires significant efforts: safety, welcome, merchandising, public services, etc. Nowadays, the new trend is to offer multiple, contemporary use of exhibition spaces, allowing exhibition events and regular social activities (commercial, cultural, etc.) to be dynamically intertwined, either to endeavor the huge economic investments behind infrastructures or to increase the attractiveness of the exhibition activities.This is the case of “Fiera del Levante”, one of the oldest exhibitions located in a fascinating central area on the seaside of the city of Bari - Italy. Here, multiple social scopes, such as multi-exhibitions and contemporary social activities related to public offices, restaurants and entertainment, live together. This is an almost unique setting, which makes Fiera del Levante (FdL) a complex system and makes the management of the exhibition a challenging co-management task.The paper deals with the development and demonstration of a complex-system modeling framework for the decision support of the co-management of Fiera del Levante exhibition system, taking into account the interaction both physical aspects (building assets, infrastructure, equipment, fittings, …) and intangible aspects (permanent and temporary events, management and business activities, etc) and, of course, considering as a main input the needs of the different stakeholders involved.

An approach for the representation, the retrieval and the reuse of design knowledge for product families design is proposed.All methods in literature rely on (at least) a partial representation based on natural language.The relation between the natural language and the ambiguity of the retrieval (and the consequent reuse) is highlighted.An anti-logicist approach to unambiguously represent the design knowledge.The impacts on the ambiguity of the retrieval and the reuse for the product family design are tested on an industrial case. The product family design is a design approach to meet the demand of customisable products. This paper deals with the knowledge representation, retrieval and reuse supporting the design stage of product families. Usually, the methods in the literature do not focus on the retrieve and the reusability of the knowledge. In other words, they do not ensure if a non-expert user can effectively retrieve and reuse the represented knowledge. To cope with this point, here, the aim is to apply an anti-logicist approach for the unambiguous design-knowledge representation to support the unambiguous retrieval and the automatic reuse of the knowledge during a product family design stage. The retrieval is unambiguous because the link between the knowledge models and the requirements is based on a syntax comparison, e.g. intervals of numbers, units of measure. An algorithm for the automatic reuse has been developed: provided an unambiguous definition of the new requirements related to the product family, the algorithm's outputs are the functional and physical definitions of all the products included in the product families, i.e. performances and CAD files. The case study is a family of components of the HVAC (heating, ventilating and air-conditioning) systems sector. Finally the advantages and issues of a potential industrial implementation are discussed.

International audience; Production planning and control and more generally taking a decision in the context of production systems often consider that input information are known, static and predictable. However, uncertainties on data and perturbations are recorded in the genetic of every production system. For instance, it is impossible to know exactly the level of the demand for a product, the availability of resources, etc. Dealing with this issue asks the question of the ability to take robust decisions against uncertainty (off-line) or the ability to be flexible (on-line). This paper proposes to analyze how Product Driven Systems – as reactive systems against unpredicted perturbations – can be part of operational research solution process against perturbations. Moreover, an overview of models and approaches for dealing with uncertainty in Operational Research is given and a first proposition is made for applying these elements into PDS as decision-making-against-perturbations engines.

Part 3: Interoperability and Systems Integration; International audience; The semantic interoperability of information has become increasingly important in Product Development Process (PDP) to support different phases during the product development. This article presents a proposal of an Interoperable Product Design and Manufacturing System (IPDMS) concept based on a set of engineering domain ontologies and sematic mapping approaches. The concept explores the potentials of semantic well-defined core-foundations in a Semantic Web ontology language. The formal core-foundations can be specialised to perform application view in Product or Manufacturing Model. The application view is used to support the information sharing between product design and manufacturing and verify the accordance with product requirements. A preliminary experimental has been realised, using a test case to share information from the design to manufacturing of an injection moulding plastic. As results, it was identified potential benefits and limitations. The mains contributions are: semantic interoperability during information sharing in PDP and analysis of inconsistencies in PDP.

International audience; The growing complexity of modern organisations poses a series of challenges, among them the cooperation between autonomous and heterogeneous information systems in distributed networks. Actually, Information Systems (IS) are said to be cooperative if they share common goals in their environment and jointly contribute to achieve these common goals. Obviously, this presupposes the ability to exchange information and then to use it in accordance with each information system required. In the literature, these features refer to interoperability. In this context, one of the main issues concerns the evaluation of the lack of interoperability between Cooperative Information Systems (CIS) through the measurement of their semantic gaps. In order to achieve this purpose, this paper proposes a mathematical formalisation of the semantic relationships between CIS conceptual models. The resulting formal model is then analysed for evaluating the lack of interoperability implications to the global information systems shared goals. The proposed approach is illustrated through a case study dealing with a B2M (Business to Manufacturing) interoperability requirement between an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system and a Manufacturing Execution System (MES) application.

Best track paper (1/20); International audience; Today, sustainability becomes one of the biggest challenges. It represents a key issue in every production activity. To face this issue, a possible solution is to enhance knowledge usage in manufacturing and sustainability domains. In this paper, we extend the ONTO-PDM ontology for formalizing sustainable manufacturing knowledge. An industrial case is presented for instantiating the extension. Moreover we design a knowledge-based system, which exploits sustainable manufacturing knowledge for supporting design and process planning with sustainability proposals, generating machine code starting from product specifications.

International audience; The grown complexity of the modern enterprise poses a series of challenges, among them keeping competitiveness in the fast changing environment in which the enterprise evolves. Addressing Enterprise Integration is considered as a key to achieve the goal of any enterprise either it is a single or a networked enterprise. Enterprise Modelling is a prerequisite to enable the common understanding of the enterprises and its various interactions in order to "provide the right information, at the right time, at the right place". However, problems often emerge from a lack of understanding of the semantics of the elaborated models resulting from various modelling experience based on different methods and tools. This paper describes the challenges associated to semantics enactment in Information Systems models. To facilitate this enactment, it proposes an approach based on a fact-oriented modelling perspective. Then, it also provides an algorithm to automatically build semantic aggregates that help in highlighting Enterprise Models core embedded semantics. A case study on the field of B2M interoperability is performed in order to illustrate the application of the presented approach.

International audience; This paper focuses on the configuration of a parallel multi-purpose machines workshop. An admissible configuration must be chosen in order to ensure that a load-balanced production plan meeting the demand exists. Moreover, the demand is strongly subject to uncertainties. That is the reason why the configuration must exhibit robustness properties: the load-balancing performance must be guaranteed with regard to a given range of uncertainties. A branch-and-bound approach has been developed and implemented to determine a cost-constrained configuration that maximizes a robustness level. Computational results are reported for both academic and industrial-scale instances. More than 80% of the academic instances are solved to optimality by the proposed method. Moreover, this method appears to be a good heuristic for industrial-scale instances.

International audience; Reference models play an important role in the knowledge management of the various complex collaboration domains (such as Supply Chain Networks). However, they often show a lack of semantic precision and, they are sometimes incomplete. In this paper, we present an approach to overcome semantic inconsistencies and incompleteness of the Supply Chain Operations Reference (SCOR) model and hence, improve its usefulness and expand the application domain. First, we describe a literal OWL specification of SCOR concepts (and related tools), built with the intention to preserve the original approach in the classification of process reference model entities and hence, to enable effectiveness of usage in original contexts. Next, we demonstrate the system for its exploitation, in specific - tools for SCOR framework browsing and rapid supply chain process configuration. Then, we describe the SCOR-FULL ontology, its relations with relevant domain ontology and show how it can be exploited for improvement of SCOR ontological framework competence. Finally, we elaborate the potential impact of the presented approach, to interoperability of systems in Supply Chain Networks.

International audience; This paper addresses multi-purpose machine configuration in an uncertain context through sensitivity analysis. The so-called configuration is the machine's ability to process products, and the uncertain context is modelled as a demand variation affecting the forecast demand. Given a configuration, this work aims at assessing the completion time deviation when the workshop demand is subject to perturbation. Such quantitative information can be used in a robustness approach for selecting the most appropriate configuration. To do so, the configuration impact on the completion time value that can be reached by solving the attached scheduling problem is first investigated. Then, the completion time deviation is written as a piecewise linear function of the magnitude of demand variation. The proposed approach, which is based on the solution of a set of linear programs, is illustrated through a detailed example. It is shown to be polynomial, and fast enough for addressing real-world instances. Finally, how to compare two configurations on the basis of completion time deviation in an uncertain context is demonstrated.

International audience; This paper addresses production systems optimisation in uncertain context. A standard framework for solving such type of problems is depicted in a 3-step approach. The two first steps are addressed in this paper. They consist of off-line characterisation of the problem and calculation of solutions with some desired performance. A generic approach to implement these off-line steps is introduced in this paper. This approach relies on calculation of robust off-line solutions. A generic framework of robustness is defined. Then five standard optimisation problems are derived and related to the so called stability and sensitivity analysis. This generic approach is then applied to a multi-purpose machines problem.

This article focuses on the minimization of the setup costs of a workshop modeled with parallel multi-purpose machines. Any admissible workshop configuration has to ensure that a load-balanced production plan meeting a given demand exists. This problem is shown to be NP-hard in the strong sense, and is stated as a mixed integer linear program. It is shown that under some hypotheses, it can be stated as a transportation problem and solved in polynomial time. An upper bound and lower bound are proposed, as well as a performance ratio assessment that is reached only when degenerate optimal solutions to the transportation problem exist.

International audience; This article presents an ongoing research project that aims to define a conceptual method to formally model the system requirements and their relationships in terms of transformation (translation, conversion and sharing) and traceability, based on an ontological approach. In this way, we are considering two hypothesis: (H1) Multiple phases of System Life Cycle can be supported by system requirements in a semantically interoperable manner; and (H2) System requirements formalization can ensure the comprehensibility and verifiability, reducing inconsistencies between different domains across the phases of System Life Cycle.

A draft architecture of a software platform is proposed to support software components interoperability in energy production systems. The scope of the platform is to address the sustainability of energy production and use efficiency. A first prototype of this platform is under development in the framework of the French ANR Plate-Form(E)3 project. Interoperability issues have been faced to design the platform. Best available candidate technologies for implementing the platform are also discussed. One architecture for facing the basic interoperability issues is also presented. A real industrial application case example is proposed to show the potential use of the proposed architecture.

International audience; The knowledge reuse and mapping are among the most important concerns related to the design knowledge representation. In this paper, authors focus on the importance of one specific property of a design knowledge representation: the unambiguity. Authors show 1) how the ambiguity of the representation can increase the risk of a failure in the reuse and mapping processes, 2) how most of works in the literature use formal logic constructs and finally 3) how the use of these can increase the risk of ambiguity. On the basis of these remarks, an overview on the works on the anti-logicist architecture is provided: the systems based on this architecture show an intelligent behaviour without using logic constructs. An analysis and a transposition of the anti-logicist principles are then performed to build a framework allowing to represent design knowledge without logic constructs. To do so 1) main concepts are formalised in a conceptual model; 2) an algorithm has been designed to map pieces of knowledge based only on the representation syntax; 3) two instantiations of the framework are showed using a CAD instantiation. Finally, the limits of the current deployment of the framework and the research perspectives are discussed.

International audience; Requirements Engineering (RE) is an important activity in system engineering and produces, from the users' needs, specifications related to what the final system must be. This process in complex systems engineering is extremely intense, because there is a large number of stakeholders involved, with expertise deriving from heterogeneous domains. Moreover, requirements' improvements and variations are common during system life cycle phases. Thus, there is a risk of inconsistency of requirements during the engineering of a system. This paper provides a contribution in requirements engineering as it explores requirements interoperability in complex systems when multiples dimensions are involved. It discusses requirement management according to the cross-domains dimension, the cross-systems life cycle dimension, the cross-requirements dimension and the risk of inconsistency when three dimensions are involved simultaneously during the life cycle phases. The main result is an overview of the existing gaps in one and/or more dimensions allowing a discussion on the possibilities to cope with the problem of requirements inconsistency in multiples dimensions.

International audience; Many researches show that the ability of independent, heterogeneous enterprises' information systems to interoperate is related to the challenges of making their semantics explicit and formal, so that the messages are not merely exchanged, but interpreted, without ambiguity. In this paper, we present an approach to overcome those challenges by developing a method for explication of the systems' implicit semantics. We define and implement the method for the generation of local ontologies, based on the databases of their systems. In addition, we describe an associated method for the translation between semantic and SQL queries, a process in which implicit semantics of the EIS's databases and explicit semantics of the local ontologies become interrelated. Both methods are demonstrated in the case of creating the local ontology and the semantic querying of OpenERP Enterprise Resource Planning system, for the benefit of the collaborative supply chain planning.

International audience; The product variety management is a key process to deal with the flexibility requested by the mass customisation. In this paper we show that current variety-modelling methods miss a customer representation: without a proper assessment of the customers is not possible to define the product variety that has to be developed to meet the requirements of a customer segment. Here we present an innovative approach to rationalise the product variety, i.e. to link each product variant to the customer profile who needs it. The aim is to optimise the product variety avoiding excesses (variants not related to a customer), lacks (customers not related to a variant) or redundancies (two or more variants proposed to a customer). An overview of customer modelling approaches in the classic product design (non-customisable) is presented. The innovative approach is here developed using system-thinking concepts. A knowledge-based system that uses this approach is designed. Finally the approach is explained using a real industrial case of a quasi-real coil design process.

International audience; This paper proposes a draft architecture for a software bus that deals with the interoperability challenges when having to interconnect, in a software platform, some software components/tools/methods/approaches for optimising energy efficiency. This platform will be developed in the framework of the French ANR Plate-Form(E)3 project. After having highlighted the challenging interoperability issues that are inherent to this type of platform, we are analysing a state-of-the-art for identifying the candidate technologies. An architecture based on one technology candidate for solving the basic interoperability challenge is then proposed.

Part 22: Sustainable Collaborative Networks III; International audience; To cope with the customer-oriented business model in a global competitive market, enterprises tend to be networked for achieving mass customisation: i.e. offering customisable products with the same efficiency as mass production. This scenario highlights two faces of variability: variability of needs (on customer side) and variability of organisations (on production side). Both types of variability induce a huge number of specified products, namely configurations. This configuration variability must be efficiently managed. This position paper discusses trends and issues for rationalising the number of configurations: i.e. engineering the right number of configurations that match both the customer needs and the production strategy. After this positioning, we propose a systemic perspective for addressing the discussed issues from a sustainability point of view. Finally we give a perspective for a product line definition method that leads to models that meet the discussed variability rationalisation.

International audience; Sustainability is one of the biggest challenges of this century either for the environment or economical growth. The required cultural shift needs challenging action that will involve deeply software and hardware aspect of manufacturing processes. In this paper, the software part of the matter is addressed by proposing a product centric ontology, in which concepts of product, processes and resources are associated to functions and sustainable manufacturing knowledge. The aim is to design a knowledge-based system that, simulating a sustainable manufacturing expert, is able to automatically identify change opportunities and to propose alternatives on the basis of the existing production scenario.

International audience; Enterprise performance is, now more than ever, one of the key points for reaching the market success. In order to increase it, economics paradigms focus on how to better manage knowledge acquiring, sharing and update. Knowledge management can be approached with the possibility offered by the sustainability goals trying to optimize different enterprise strategic domains. The modern architecture of information systems (ISs) is based on distributed networks with a grand challenge of representing and sharing knowledge managed by ISs and consequently, to remove semantics interoperability barriers. First, this paper analyses interoperability issues between Cooperative Enterprise Information Systems (CEIS). Based on this analysis, the authors propose a conceptualisation approach for semantics discovery and management in Enterprise Information Systems models, based on applying fact-oriented transformation rules. The input of the transformation process is a conceptualised UML class model, reverse-engineered from an implemented model, and transformed into a Fact-Oriented Model (FOM), which makes explicit the finest-grained semantics. Semantics aggregates are then computed for structuring the whole semantics embedded in enterprise applications. They define independent set of concepts with their own minimal mandatory semantics. Finally a case study is proposed to validate the practicability of our approach in a real scaled scenario involving an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and a Manufacturing Execution System (MES).

National audience; L'interopérabilité d'entreprise est désormais considérée comme une performance clé pour la réalisation de la mission d'un réseau d'entreprises collaboratives. Il faut garantir que l'information est partagée, comprise par rapport à une sémantique commune et utilisée par les différents systèmes d'entreprise pour réaliser une mission globale. Dans ce contexte, évaluer l'interopérabilité sémantique des modèles de données associés aux systèmes d'information d'entreprises est important. Nous nous intéressons dans ce travail à l'extraction de la sémantique dans un modèle de système d'information. Le but est de faire émerger la sémantique nécessaire et suffisante pour que le système d'information opère correctement. Pour cela nous définissons ce que nous appelons des blocs sémantiques qui permettent de mettre en évidence, à l'intérieur d'un modèle conceptuel, des ensembles indépendants de concepts qui définissent la sémantique minimale nécessaire pour l'opération d'un sous-système du système d'information considéré. Ainsi les blocs sémantiques doivent permettre à terme l'évaluation de la relation d'interopérabilité entre des sous-systèmes de deux systèmes d'information donnés.

International audience; This paper addresses the problem of designing the configuration of an interconnected electricity distribution network, so as to maximize the minimum power margin over the feeders. In addition to the limitation of feeder power capacity, the distance (as hop count) between any customer and its allocated feeder is also limited for preventing power losses and voltage drops. Feasibility conditions are studied and a complexity analysis is performed before introducing a heuristic algorithm and two integer linear programming formulations for addressing the problem. A cutting-plane algorithm relying on the generation of two classes of cuts for enforcing connectivity and distance requirements respectively is proposed for solving the second integer linear programming formulation. All the approaches are then compared on a set of 190 instances before discussing their performances.

Information in enterprise is, now more than ever, a fundamental resource. In order to increase enterprise performance, economics paradigms focus on how to better manage it. Information Systems (IS) are systems whose activities are devoted to capture and to store data, to process them and produce knowledge, used by any stakeholders within an enterprise or among different networked enterprises. The modern architecture of information systems is based on distributed networks. An important challenge, to reach higher performance, is to represent and share knowledge managed by those ISs. One of the main issues in making such heterogeneous Cooperative Information Systems (CIS) working together is to remove semantics interoperability barriers. This paper firstly analyses interoperability issues between CISs and then proposes a systematic approach for data models conceptualisation for knowledge explicitation, based on initial conceptual model cleaning rules, expert knowledge injection rules and finally fact-oriented transformation rules. A case study is proposed, related to a work order process in an Enterprise Resource Planning application, Sage X3.

International audience; To remain competitive, enterprises increasingly need to collaborate with each other and evolve into extended enterprises or networked enterprises. These organisation configurations incite the different enterprise systems to be interconnected in spite of their functional, structured, and conceptual heterogeneity. Typically, these features refer to the interoperability that can be defined as the capacity of systems or organisations to provide or to accept services and to use those services to effectively operate together (IEEE 1990). To promote added value creation through this collaborative activity, there is an increasing demand for information exchange and knowledge sharing among the various information systems (known as technical interoperability). Information and communications technologies and implementing standards can contribute to solving (at least partially) the barriers to technical interoperability. However, these efforts remain insufficient to guarantee interoperability at the conceptual level, where enterprises in a networked system can share information with each other, interpret this information correctly according to a common business semantics and then use this information to achieve a global mission.

International audience; The grown complexity of the modern enterprise poses a series of challenges, among them keeping competitiveness in the fast changing environment in which the enterprise evolves. Addressing Enterprise Integration is considered as a key to achieve the goal of any enterprise either it is a single or a networked enterprise. Enterprise Modelling is a prerequisite to enable the common understanding of the enterprises and its various interactions in order to "provide the right information, at the right time, at the right place". However, problems often emerge from a lack of understanding of the semantics of the elaborated models resulting from various modelling experience based on different methods and tools. In this paper, we describe the challenges associated to semantics enactment in Information Systems models. To facilitate this enactment, we propose an approach based on a fact-oriented modelling perspective. Then, we also provide an algorithm to automatically build semantic aggregates that help in highlighting Enterprise Models core embedded semantics. A case study on the field of B2M interoperability is performed in order to illustrate the application of the presented approach.

International audience; With the growing advances in computing and communications technologies, the concept of system-of-systems (SoS) becomes widely recognized as it offers potential benefits and new challenges. Relevant perspectives related to SoS constitutes nowadays an active domain of research, among them those issues concerning the need of full interoperation. When it is related to enterprise information systems, the SoS paradigm may then be derived to a form of System-of-Information Systems (SoIS). This paper presents an overview of the features of the interoperation in SoIS and proposes guidelines to evaluate and formalize it in order to identify semantic gaps between information systems concepts and models. It provides, through an example, an approach to use Description Logic for evaluating semantic interoperability concerns.

International audience

Acceptance rate: 14%; International audience; In order to increase enterprise performance, economics paradigms focus, now more than ever, on how to better manage information. The modern architecture of information systems is based on distributed networks with a grand challenge representing and sharing knowledge managed by those ISs. One of the main issues in making such heterogeneous Cooperative Information Systems (CIS) working together is to remove semantics interoperability barriers. This paper firstly analyses interoperability issues between CISs and then proposes patterns for data models conceptualisation for knowledge explicitation, based on expert knowledge injection rules and a fact-oriented approach. A case study is proposed related to a work order process in Sage X3, an Enterprise Resource Planning application.

Le problème industriel auquel nous nous intéressons concerne la configuration d'un atelier particulier de la chaîne de fabrication de circuits intégrés. Configurer ce parc de machines revient à choisir quelles machines peuvent traiter quels types de produit en les munissant des ressources adéquates et en faisant les réglages appropriés. La mise en place des ressources et leur maintenance constituent le coût de la configuration. L'objectif est de minimiser ce coût tout en garantissant un délai de fabrication. Par ailleurs, les machines ayant un coût particulièrement élevé, l'industriel souhaite que la demande soit satisfaite en équilibrant la charge de travail sur les différentes machines. Dans le secteur d'activité considéré, la demande est extrêmement variable dans le temps. La configuration doit cependant garantir les performances d'équilibre de la charge malgré les incertitudes : elle doit être robuste. Après avoir modélisé le problème, une méthode basée sur des outils de l'optimisation combinatoire a été proposée et implantée. Des résultats exacts sur des exemples académiques ont été obtenus. Sur des exemples de taille industrielle, des solutions approchées de bonne qualité ont été calculées. Une analyse qualitative des résultats a permis de montrer que notre approche permet de répondre au problème industriel posé.

International audience; Nowadays, more and more the complexity of product has increased. Moreover, product development must meet all costumers' needs. This complexity has required the establishments of different patterns with additional enterprises to complement their skills. However, the definition of the different patterns with heterogeneous knowledge can share information is important to avoid the risk of misinterpretation. So, product requirements must consider all constraints during the product realization. In this way, researches have identified that there are different issues related to requirement analysis and maintenance during the product realisation. In order to cope with these issues, a conceptual approach to formally model the requirements interoperability is proposed in terms of transformations and traceability. Initially, the authors have proposed a characterisation of product to identify the requirements interoperability issues and the results were: (i) domains; (ii) product life cycle; and (iii) product requirements. Based on these characterisation, the conceptual approach used a formal logic descriptions and ontology application to transform requirements written in natural language to requirements written in formal language (mathematical language). As a result, the research presented an overview of the existing gaps in one or more requirements interoperability to cope with the requirements inconsistency problem in multiples perspectives in product development.

Le dossier Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse c Bombardier inc (Bombardier Aerospace Training Center) offre l’occasion de se pencher sur le lien requis entre la différence de traitement et le motif illicite de discrimination selon la Charte québécoise. Dans ce texte, l’auteur soutient, tout d’abord, que le lien doit être établi entre le motif prohibé et l’exclusion subie, et cela tant en matière de discrimination directe qu’indirecte. Ensuite, il se questionne sur la nature de ce lien. À cet effet, il précise que le motif illicite ne doit pas nécessairement constituer l’unique ou le principal fondement de l’exclusion, mais plutôt être l’un de ceux-ci. Compte tenu de ces éléments, l’auteur propose ensuite une méthode unifiée devant servir de guide aux tribunaux lors de l’analyse de la preuve prima facie de discrimination. Ainsi, lors de la seconde étape du test de l’article 10, le demandeur aura le fardeau d’établir, tant en matière de discrimination directe qu’indirecte, que le motif prohibé a été l’un des fondements de l’exclusion subie., The facts in Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse c Bombardier inc (Bombardier Aerospace Training Center) give us the opportunity to address the required link between the adverse treatment and the prohibited ground of discrimination under the Quebec Charter. In this text, the author argues, firstly, that the link must be established between the prohibited ground of discrimination and exclusion suffered, in both direct and indirect discrimination. Then, he questions the nature of the link. He specifies that the prohibited ground should not necessarily be the sole or the principal ground of the exclusion, but rather one of them. Given these elements, the author then offers a unified methodology to provide guidance to courts when they analyze the prima facie evidence of discrimination. Thus, in the second step of the section 10 test, the plaintiff has the burden to establish, in both direct and indirect discrimination, that the prohibited ground of discrimination was one of the bases of the exclusion.