Building a Multi-aspect Ontology for Semantic Interoperability in PLM

Abstract

Interoperability support is a key task to enable seamless integration between various information systems. Today, in the era of Internet of Things and cyber-physical systems more and more systems have to collaborate. Product lifecycle management is not an exception. It covers multiple processes related to all stages of the product lifecycle and usually aimed at solving various tasks using different apparatus. As a result, a dilemma arises: on the one hand, there is a need of common information models enabling seamless information exchange, and on the other hand, the existing information models need to be preserved in order not to lose the already achieved efficiency in solving various tasks. In the present research, the problem of developing a single ontology for PLM support is investigated taking into account differences between terminologies (multi-aspect ontology) used at various stages of the PLM cycle. In this paper, the process of the multi-aspect PLM ontology building is presented based on the case study of PLM support at the automation equipment producer, Festo AG & Co KG.