PROCESSUS – Making better use of corporate knowledge

In an environment of global competition to produce innovative goods and services, companies are faced with the challenge of making the best possible use of their knowledge. Within the PROCESSUS framework, a solution is being developed, with the help of semantic technologies, to ensure that employees have access to the right information at the right time. This will lower costs and optimize operations.

Knowledge is crucial to the competitiveness of German industry. In practice, however, the information that many companies possess is not adequately linked, making it difficult to access. One reason is that companies use a wide variety of databases and software systems (ERP, PLM, CMS systems, etc.) that are unable to communicate with one another. In addition, critical information is often hidden within internal documents – texts, contracts, analyses, plans, records and e-mails – so employees have only limited access to this valuable resource. PROCESSUS is developing a platform to combine the various types of information a company has in its systems, based on the significance of and relationships between data. This makes isolated bits of corporate knowledge more transparent.

Traditional software systems are capable of analyzing documents, but they cannot put them in a broader context. PROCESSUS, as a semantic service platform, will make it possible to use corporate information to support dynamic processes. It will link the contents of software systems and documents semantically. Where information is stored will no longer be a concern for users, who will be able to click on a link to find the right information at the right time.

Practical testing in the fields of mechanical engineering and information technology
The concepts and solutions developed in PROCESSUS are being tested in the fields of mechanical engineering and information technology. In mechanical engineering, the focus is on applications related to drive systems and automation technology. The mechanical engineering sector, in particular, involves highly complex processes and diverse user groups. A typical process chain consists of preliminary development, construction, production, sales and customer service. One and the same product is dealt with in very different contexts as these steps are carried out. Construction specialists are generally concerned with technical information, while their colleagues in the sales department are more likely to focus on market and competitive analyses. PROCESSUS links the data contained in the various software systems, based on their significance. This gives employees exactly the information they need – in the context of the respective process step.

In such situations, PROCESSUS will make it possible to access information in an entirely new way: Users describe their problem, and while processing the query, the computer considers solutions that have proved successful in a similar context. This makes users aware of aspects and opportunities they may not have considered, such as the idea of using existing products in other markets. For example, a PROCESSUS-supported search might alert a member of the sales staff of a company that manufactures paint production systems to the fact that a machine component, such as a gripper arm or a labeling unit, might also be used in the production of bottling systems.

In the area of information technology, these insights can be applied to the linking of diverse computer applications, or so-called service-oriented architectures. Within the framework of the PROCESSUS use case, an infrastructure is being developed for managing content in the software industry. This classifies software components according to their ability to solve problems, and uses this information for drawing up technical documentation. The PROCESSUS platform combines the semantic information in the user’s query with information and text phrases contained in the knowledge base, and dynamically produce a document with the necessary information.

These two examples demonstrate how the technologies developed through PROCESSUS make it possible to link industry and process knowledge more quickly and to develop new products, solutions and business models. This offers companies a competitive edge, since they can respond more quickly because their employees have access to knowledge wherever they need it, and companies can save money on research and development. This also gives companies an advantage in terms of quality, since the information they receive meets an especially high standard. Consequently, PROCESSUS helps companies make the best possible use of their knowledge so that they can better meet the challenges of global competition.

Synergy with TEXO and ORDO
The results of PROCESSUS offer great potential, and this is particularly true when they are combined with the technologies developed through the TEXO and ORDO applications. Because of their modular structure, the components of PROCESSUS can be deployed as independent services on TEXO or ORDO platforms. The information provided by PROCESSUS is accessible individually and in a specific context, making it possible to take full advantage of a company’s internal knowledge.