Knowledge-based Configuration From Research to Business Cases

383 Pages·2014·21.257 MB·English

by  Alexander Felfernig, Claire Bagley, Juha Tiihonen, Lothar Hotz

Knowledge-Based
Configuration
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Knowledge-Based
Configuration
From Research to
Business Cases
Edited by
Alexander Felfernig
Lothar Hotz
Claire Bagley
Juha Tiihonen
AMSTERDAM • BOSTON • HEIDELBERG • LONDON
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Knowledge-based configuration from research to business cases / edited by Alexander Felfernig, Lothar Hotz,
Claire Bagley, Juha Tiihonen.
pages cm
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-12-415817-7 (alk. paper)
1. Expert systems (Computer science) I. Felfernig, Alexander, editor of compilation.
QA76.76.E95K555442 2014
006.3’3--dc23
2013043355
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN: 978-0-12-415817-7
Printed and bound in the United States of America
14 15 16 17 18 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
For information on all MK publications visit our website at www.mkp.com
Contents
Acknowledgments ...............................................................................................................................xiii
About the Editors ..................................................................................................................................xv
List of Contributors .............................................................................................................................xvii
Foreword ..............................................................................................................................................xxi
PART 1 INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER 1 Motivation for the Book .................................................................3
1.1 What Is Configuration? ................................................................................................3
1.2 Why Use Configuration Technologies? .......................................................................6
1.3 Why Read This Book? .................................................................................................6
References ....................................................................................................................7
CHAPTER 2 A Short History of Configuration
Technologies ................................................................................9
2.1 Rule-based Configurators ............................................................................................9
2.2 Early Model-based Configurators ..............................................................................10
2.3 Mainstream Configuration Environments ..................................................................11
2.4 Mass Customization Toolkits .....................................................................................13
2.5 Conclusion .................................................................................................................14
References ..................................................................................................................15
CHAPTER 3 Configuration-Related Topics .......................................................21
3.1 Design ........................................................................................................................21
3.2 Planning .....................................................................................................................22
3.3 Recommender Systems ..............................................................................................23
3.4 Software Configuration and Version
Management ..............................................................................................................24
3.5 Product Data Management ........................................................................................25
3.6 Conclusion .................................................................................................................25
References ..................................................................................................................25
CHAPTER 4 Benefits of Configuration Systems ................................................29
4.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................29
4.2 Challenges and Benefits .............................................................................................29
4.3 Conclusion .................................................................................................................32
References ..................................................................................................................32
v
vi Contents
CHAPTER 5 Overview of the Book ..................................................................35
PART 2 BASICS
CHAPTER 6 Configuration Knowledge Representation and
Reasoning ..................................................................................41
6.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................41
6.2 Constraint-Based Knowledge Representation ...........................................................43
6.3 Graphical Knowledge Representation .......................................................................52
6.4 Logic-Based Knowledge Representation ...................................................................59
6.5 Comparison of Knowledge Representations ..............................................................66
6.6 Conclusion .................................................................................................................68
Acknowledgments .....................................................................................................68
References ..................................................................................................................68
CHAPTER 7 Conflict Detection and Diagnosis in Configuration .........................73
7.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................73
7.2 Example .....................................................................................................................74
7.3 Determining Minimal Conflict Sets ...........................................................................75
7.4 Determining Minimal Diagnoses ...............................................................................79
7.5 Conclusion .................................................................................................................86
Acknowledgments .....................................................................................................86
References ..................................................................................................................86
CHAPTER 8 User Interfaces for Configuration Environments ............................89
8.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................89
8.2 Design Principles for Configurator User Interfaces ...................................................90
8.3 Technological Issues ..................................................................................................92
8.4 Usability Issues in Configurator User Interface Development ................................103
8.5 Conclusion ...............................................................................................................103
Acknowledgments ...................................................................................................104
References ................................................................................................................104
CHAPTER 9 Core Capabilities of Sustainable Mass
Customization ..........................................................................107
9.1 Introduction ..............................................................................................................107
9.2 Solution Space Development ...................................................................................108
9.3 Robust Process Design.............................................................................................112
9.4 Choice Navigation ...................................................................................................113
9.5 Conclusion ...............................................................................................................117
References ................................................................................................................117
Contents vii
CHAPTER 10 Smarthome Configuration Model ................................................121
10.1 Introduction ..............................................................................................................121
10.2 Building Automation Systems: Domain ..................................................................122
10.3 Configuration Model: Structure ...............................................................................123
10.4 Configuration Model: Constraints ...........................................................................129
10.5 Configuration Model: Configuration Workflow .......................................................132
10.6 Characteristics of the Smarthome Model ................................................................134
10.7 Conclusion ...............................................................................................................135
References ................................................................................................................135
PART 3 ADVANCED TOPICS
CHAPTER 11 Knowledge Engineering for Configuration Systems ......................139
11.1 Introduction ..............................................................................................................139
11.2 The Configurator Development Life Cycle .............................................................140
11.3 Debugging Configuration Knowledge Bases ...........................................................145
11.4 Organizational Challenges .......................................................................................150
11.5 Conclusion ...............................................................................................................151
References ................................................................................................................153
CHAPTER 12 Redundancy Detection in Configuration Knowledge .....................157
12.1 Introduction ..............................................................................................................157
12.2 An Example Configuration Knowledge Base ..........................................................159
12.3 Determining Redundant Constraints ........................................................................160
12.4 CoreDiag ..................................................................................................................162
12.5 Evaluation ................................................................................................................163
12.6 Conclusion ...............................................................................................................164
Acknowledgments ...................................................................................................164
References ................................................................................................................165
CHAPTER 13 Personalized Configuration .......................................................167
13.1 Introduction ..............................................................................................................167
13.2 Example ...................................................................................................................168
13.3 Integrating Recommendation Technologies to Configurators .................................170
13.4 Research Challenges ................................................................................................176
13.5 Conclusion ...............................................................................................................177
References ................................................................................................................177
CHAPTER 14 Consumer Decision-Making and Configuration Systems ..............181
14.1 Introduction ..............................................................................................................181
14.2 Decoy Effects ...........................................................................................................182
viii Contents
14.3 Serial Position Effects ..............................................................................................185
14.4 Status Quo Effect .....................................................................................................187
14.5 Conclusion ...............................................................................................................188
References ................................................................................................................188
CHAPTER 15 Configuration-Related Research Challenges ...............................191
References ................................................................................................................193
PART 4 CASE STUDIES
CHAPTER 16 SIEMENS: Configuration and Reconfiguration in Industry .............199
16.1 Introduction ..............................................................................................................199
16.2 Domain: Railway Interlocking Systems ..................................................................200
16.3 Requirements ...........................................................................................................204
16.4 Techniques ...............................................................................................................206
16.5 Results ......................................................................................................................208
16.6 Conclusion ...............................................................................................................209
References ................................................................................................................209
CHAPTER 17 Tacton: Use of Tacton Configurator at FLSmidth ..........................211
17.1 Introduction ..............................................................................................................211
17.2 FLSmidth Company Introduction ............................................................................211
17.3 Cement Plants ..........................................................................................................212
17.4 The Choice of Tacton Configurator .........................................................................213
17.5 Advantages and Requirements of Constraint-Based Configuration ........................214
17.6 Implementing Tacton Configurator at FLSmidth .....................................................215
17.7 Benefits ....................................................................................................................217
17.8 Conclusion ...............................................................................................................218
Acknowledgments ...................................................................................................218
References ................................................................................................................218
CHAPTER 18 encoway: From ERP-Based to Sales-Oriented Configuration .........219
18.1 Introduction: ERP-Based Configuration ..................................................................219
18.2 Sales-Oriented Configuration ..................................................................................220
18.3 Configurator Application: sellAIR at Boge .............................................................223
18.4 Conclusion ...............................................................................................................227
References ................................................................................................................227
CHAPTER 19 Kapsch: Reconfiguration of Mobile Phone Networks ...................229
19.1 Introduction ..............................................................................................................229
19.2 Domain Requirements .............................................................................................230
Contents ix
19.3 SIMOA Approach ....................................................................................................233
19.4 Business Cases .........................................................................................................238
19.5 Conclusion ...............................................................................................................239
Acknowledgments ...................................................................................................239
References ................................................................................................................239
CHAPTER 20 Configuring and Generating Technical Documents ......................241
20.1 Introduction ..............................................................................................................241
20.2 Defining Model-Based Product Lines .....................................................................242
20.3 Industrial Case Example: Customizing Technical Documentation .........................243
20.4 Modeling Document Variability ..............................................................................244
20.5 Tool Support for Document Configuration and Generation ....................................246
20.6 Conclusion ...............................................................................................................248
Acknowledgments ...................................................................................................249
References ................................................................................................................249
CHAPTER 21 Configuring Services and Processes ..........................................251
21.1 Introduction ..............................................................................................................251
21.2 Sales Configuration of Services ...............................................................................252
21.3 Process Configuration ..............................................................................................255
21.4 Conclusion ...............................................................................................................258
Acknowledgments ...................................................................................................258
References ................................................................................................................259
PART 5 CONFIGURATION ENVIRONMENTS
CHAPTER 22 S'UPREME ................................................................................263
22.1 Introduction ..............................................................................................................263
22.2 System Architecture and Technological Background ..............................................263
22.3 Modeling of the Working Example ..........................................................................265
22.4 Conclusion ...............................................................................................................269
References ................................................................................................................269
CHAPTER 23 encoway ..................................................................................271
23.1 Introduction ..............................................................................................................271
23.2 History and Scientific Basis .....................................................................................271
23.3 Modeling of the Working Example ..........................................................................272
23.4 System Integration ...................................................................................................275
23.5 Data Integration .......................................................................................................276
23.6 Quote Generation Process ........................................................................................277
23.7 Conclusion ...............................................................................................................278
References ................................................................................................................278