Building Decision Making Models Through Conceptual Constraints: Multi-scale Process Model Implementations

Abstract

The integration of decision-making procedures typically assigned to different hierarchical levels in a production system (strategic, tactical, and operational) requires the use of complex multi-scale mathematical models and high computational efforts, in addition to the need of an extensive management of data and knowledge within the production system. The aim of this study is to propose a comprehensive solution for this integration problem through the use of Conceptual Constraints. The presented methodology is based on a model in a domain ontology and the use of generalized concepts to develop tailor-made decision making models, created according to the introduced data. Different decision making formulations are reviewed and, accordingly, comprehensive Conceptual Constraints for the different concepts (like material balances) can be determined. This work shows how these Conceptual Constraints can be used when the quality of information is changed, enabling multi-scale implementations.