Manufacturing system management: decision support tool design through the cooperative object concept use

This paper deals with a computer aided management support tool developed on the basis of hierarchical production management models. Levels specific interactions and main behaviours are modelled through object oriented Petri nets (OOPNs) and computer science protocols such as communication and client/server protocols. Organisational scheme support consists of integrated levels hierarchy and is further extended to lateral co-ordination processes integrated in a pre-established hierarchy. Conception issues and further extensions concerning horizontal organisational schemes are also pointed out.