A systems engineering approach to the design of an integrated decision support system for a textile company

Abstract

This paper describes a systems engineering approach to the design of an integrated decision support system, IDES, for the planning and control of ATMA, a Portuguese textile company. The paper presents the overall process emphasizing the methodological framework and the main results. Systems engineering methods were crucial in the development of a methodological framework adapted to the specificities of the Portuguese industry. This framework proved invaluable in the process of mapping a conceptual planning and control architecture based on dynamical optimization onto the design of the IDES according to the recommendations of the strategic plan of ATMA. Concepts and techniques from control systems, dynamic optimization, software engineering, enterprise modeling and anthropocentric systems were used in this process.