An Array-based Approach to Modelling Production Management System Architectures

Several proposals to a conceptual framework for production management architecture are briefly reviewed. It is suggested that an array-based approach and a classic engineering-economic model, is used as tools for a conceptualisation of ideas. Traditional architectural design is usually based on a geometrical thinking.

Accordingly, elements from measurement and array theory are introduced, but in a more abstract way than traditionally connected with 3D-geometry. The paper concludes that a few set of concepts, like products, resources, activities, events, stages, etc. can be synthesized and analogies and symmetries between production engineering and software engineering can be established.