Information-Based Integration for Complex Systems

Engineering, operations research, and management science use scientific and engineering processes to design, plan, and schedule increasingly more complex industrial systems in order to enhance performance. One can argue that the systems have grown in complexity over the years mainly due to increased strive for resource optimization combined with a greater degree of uncertainty in the system’s environment. Information is seen as one of the main resources that managers try to use in an optimal way. In this chapter we show how this resource can be used in integration issues. We introduce the problem of information-based integration, propose a solution, and illustrate the proposed solution with an example. INTRODUCTION Managing complex systems requires a greater understanding and knowledge about the role of information in systems operation. Today, a growing complexity of information flow is a characteristic of enterprises which concerns products to be manufactured, services to be offered, processes and company structures. Complex systems also operate in changing environments surrounded by numerous uncertainties and disturbances. Difficulties arise from unexpected tasks and events and from a multitude of possible failures and other interactions during the attempt to control various activities in dynamic environments. Therefore, management of This chapter appears in the book, Knowledge and Information Technology Management: Human and Social Perspectives edited by Angappa Gunasekaran, Omar Khalil and Syed Mahbubur Rahman. Copyright © 200, Idea Group Inc. 701 E. Chocolate Avenue, Hershey PA 17033, USA Tel: 717/533-8845; Fax 717/533-8661; URL-http://www.idea-group.com ITB8227 IDEA GROUP PUBLISHING