The Tec4MaaSEs Project Objectives

Our strongest drive is about reshaping global value chains, and specifically under what conditions, for how long and with what tools will impact how manufacturing leaders instill resilience in their global operations.

Tec4MaaSEs provides an overall framework for value networks, where processes, stakeholders and resources could be modelled as interconnected DTs. This allows for the design of strategies and actions required to further enhance resilience and circularity along the entire value network. The proposed framework is complemented with a dynamic reference library that uses semantics and models resources and capabilities of the registered providers for each business case. The overall performance is continuously evaluated and monitored via a multilevel balanced scorecard framework. The framework is configurable and capable of responding to varying supply and demand of individual actors within the value network. It allows then for the evaluation of alternatives and the adequate reaction and better understanding of the impact of external disrupting events within the industrial processes.

Tec4MaaSEs develops a comprehensive model for the development and coordination of the DT value-network within the MaaS environment. The development exploits the relevant information encapsulated within the reference library (O1) to allow for the registration of requests for services and their suitable decomposition to subtasks of smaller granularity. The resulting DT platform enables trusted cross-factory collaboration, cooperative use and sharing of resources and allows for the use of distributed and programmable resources on demand and the dynamic reconfiguration of the value network. Each resource (asset and/or capability) and process is modelled as a DT with cognitive and autonomous decision-making features. The value network is modelled as a network of interconnected, synchronized, and reconfigurable DTs. The model is made available through case-specific dashboards that allow the stakeholders to monitor and operate the system (in accordance with their roles and responsibilities), execute simulations to evaluate different system configurations, and assess the overall performance providing direct measurement of relevant KPIs.

Tec4MaaSEs adopts a human-centered perspective to implement a set of explainable, context-aware planning and scheduling methods. Such methods are based on a suite of novel:
a) proactive and predictive analytics that respond to unforeseen external events and make predictions about future outcomes, b) suitable clustering techniques for resource and functionality matching, c) robust planning and scheduling methods for optimized service composition upon various Quality of Service attributes (e.g., service time and cost, idle time ratio, throughput, scalability, response time, reliability, greenhouse gas emissions, manufacturing efficiency). Being integrated into the platform, these technologies improve cross-organization
collaboration together with the possibility to adapt production processes, stock levels and any other variables of the manufacturing and logistic flow.

Tec4MaaSeS supports the real-time orchestration of DTs with a plug-and-work registration process of users, grounded on suitable standards (e.g., OPC UA, Asset Administration Shell) that makes assets and capabilities accessible without barriers dictated by proprietary software. Data spaces feed dynamic services for proactive optimization of the industrial process, ensuring a high level of interoperability (IDS trusted data connectors that have the potential to enhance data sovereignty). Governance services, based on trustworthiness principles (privacy, safety, resilience, reliability security), safeguard the communication exchange.

Tec4MaaSEs, is customized to be instantiated in the three pilot cases. Measurements are collected to assess the performance of the technical solution and to evaluate how the digitalization of the processes fosters a more resilient value network. The lessons learnt during the piloting phase are translated into a) a resiliency reference framework with replication guidelines, b) generic human activities framework with deployment guidelines and lessons learnt from the pilots, and c) reference operational and governance framework for MaaS value networks.

The dissemination focuses more on scientific and technical achievement with the overarching objective to raise awareness about Tec4MaaSEs and set the foundations for future exploitation and commercialization of the project results. The experience gained will be used to create success stories to be communicated to industrial players, to engage relevant stakeholders and to create a solid community of potential future adopters. Intense communication activities will address the industrial community, policy makers and institutional
organizations, standardization bodies, and the general public with the aim to maximize the impact and contribute to the formalization of MaaS standards. Exploitation plans and business models will be developed to prepare for future commercialization activities with the aim to enlarge the customer base and to shorten the time to market.