Standards Development

Scope

This specification defines constructs for a Service Modelling Language (SML) for Virtual Manufacturing Enterprises (VMEs). There is no language standard in ISO or CEN for the modelling of service systems. Existing service modelling languages mainly focus on IT– related services or web services. Most existing enterprise modelling languages have some relevance for services for a VME and can be reused to model part of a service system in this context. However the concepts of those modelling languages need to be integrated and mapped one to another in order to cover the whole modelling requirements for service system engineering.

A standardized Service Modelling Language (SML) and its associated meta-model is seen as an important issue to avoid costly and fragmented development in this domain. SML is focusing on modelling of manufacturing services that a company can develop to support its products. Compared to ISO 19440-2, SML employs less constructs and a simpler structure. The SML can be considered a specialization of the more general modelling language proposed in ISO 19440-2 .

The modelling constructs of this Technical Specification are complementary to those constructs and support the design and implementation of future enterprise systems providing extended products (products + services) to the market.

This Technical Specification specifies:

a) a Model Driven Service Engineering Architecture (MDSEA),

b) a set of constructs for a Service Modelling Language for (Virtual) Manufacturing Enterprises developed under MDSEA.

Five annexes are provided addressing the basics concepts of service modelling, service modelling languages, tools and MDSEA and industrial pilots to validate the SML, Annex D and Annex E.

The MDSEA architecture is derived from MDA [1] and MDI [2] with necessary adaptation and extension to cover the modelling of service (and its system) in its most general forms.

The modelling language addressed in this Technical Specification is specified only at the Business Service Modelling (BSM) level of MDSEA. This specification applies to manufacturing enterprises but can also apply to other classes of enterprises. It is intended for use by system engineers, IT and research specialists who are concerned with developing and deploying product related services in VMEs and Ecosystems.

The constructs specified in this document are also intended to be used by those business users who are making decisions based on business rather than technical concerns. For this reason, many of the details are simplified or omitted compared to their equivalents (where they exist) in IS 19440:2.

The main added value of the proposed SML will be threefold:

i) Identification of the language constructs needed to define services needed by the business user.

ii) Integration of existing modelling languages constructs into one coherent meta-model.

iii) Definition of an MDSEA framework based on MDI/MDA to host the language and offer methods of model transformation between the modelling levels.

Purpose

The Service Modelling Language (SML) with its associated meta-model is one important precondition for a non-fragmented, holistic development in Service Engineering. There is no process-oriented language standard in ISO or CEN for the modelling of a service system. Some existing service modelling languages mainly focus on IT related service or Web service using the concept of messages and message exchange. Most of existing enterprise modelling languages are relevant to service in Virtual Manufacturing Enterprise (VME) and can be reused and adapted to model part of a service system in the context of VME. However, concepts of those modelling languages need to be integrated and mapped one to another in order to cover the whole modelling requirements for service system engineering.

The proposed Technical Report will serve as a particular contribution to the knowledge about modelling service in service systems. Further, a language standardization document will facilitate interoperability between various service models and systems.

The proposed service language allows integration between heterogeneous modelling languages through its meta-models and templates. Furthermore, several language elements identified in the proposed SML are part of ISO 19440:2020 ‘Constructs for Enterprise Modelling’, so positioning SML as a specialization of ISO 19440. Additional related standards are listed in Annex B. Industry needs a set of comprehensive modelling languages for enterprise services reflecting the needs of the end user. This will in in turn create requirements for tools and new applications. Enterprise Modelling consultancies and tool vendors have developed Enterprise Modelling methodologies and supporting tools to address the phases of the enterprise life cycle and enterprise modelling in the strategic, tactical or operational phase .Such tools support the service life cycle, business decision-making as what-ifs or simulation, performance monitoring via Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and control of the operational processes. SML will insure the extension towards enterprise services.

Differences in methodologies and toolsets are sources of competitive advantage. Hence, consultancies and tool vendors would not naturally participate in any initiative to standardize these. At the same time, tools are continually evolving making it difficult for enterprises to reuse models. The need now is for a common definition and greater formalism to permit unambiguous interpretation. With CEN leading the work, a CEN Technical Report on the SLM will facilitate further involvement of the research community in Europe.