Concept Of Virtual Enterprise Research Articles

An IT Governance Framework for Virtual Enterprise in Tourism Industry: Evidence from Small Tourism Enterprises in Thailand

Information technology (IT) plays a significant role on a highly information-intensive industry like tourism industry globally and dramatically. Virtual enterprise (VE) concept is an innovation that enables small tourism enterprises (STEs) in developing countries to offer effective tourism services without large investment in IT. As STEs operate their VEs based on cloud-sourcing environment, STEs have to deal with IT risks that may affect the entire organization. As almost all STEs are found lacking in IT management experience, it is not effective to apply traditional IT governance frameworks, such as Control objectives for information and related technologies (COBIT), IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL), and International organization for standardization (ISO). This study proposes an IT governance framework for STEs operating in VE concept with cloud-sourcing environment. The methodology began with multiple-case study research via semi-structure interviews. Subjects are IT leaders from 10 STEs. IT governance framework for STEs was derived from the interview results, the framework consists of five IT governance areas: Strategy, Administration, Technology and Infrastructure, Supply, and Human Resource. This study also proposed performance assessment criteria for assessing IT governance performance. The proposed assessment criteria were integrated from relevance criteria in COBIT, ISO38500, ITIL, and previous research. STEs can adopt the proposed framework in their VEs to ensure the achievement of effectiveness and efficiency of their services in virtual environment. This will eventually guarantee their continued success in tourism services at present and in the future.

Practical application of game theory based production flow planning method in virtual manufacturing networks

Modern enterprises have to react quickly to dynamic changes in the market, due to changing customer requirements and expectations. One of the key area of production management, that must continuously evolve by searching for new methods and tools for increasing the efficiency of manufacturing systems is the area of production flow planning and control. These aspects are closely connected with the ability to implement the concept of Virtual Enterprises (VE) and Virtual Manufacturing Network (VMN) in which integrated infrastructure of flexible resources are created. In the proposed approach, the players role perform the objects associated with the objective functions, allowing to solve the multiobjective production flow planning problems based on the game theory, which is based on the theory of the strategic situation. For defined production system and production order models ways of solving the problem of production route planning in VMN on computational examples for different variants of production flow is presented. Possible decision strategy to use together with an analysis of calculation results is shown.

The distributed agent-based approach in the e-manufacturing environment

The deficiency of a coherent flow of information from a production department causes unplanned downtime and failures of machines and their equipment, which in turn results in production planning process based on incorrect and out-of-date information. All of these factors entail, as the consequence, the additional difficulties associated with the process of decision-making. They concern, among other, the coordination of components of a distributed system and providing the access to the required information, thereby generating unnecessary costs. The use of agent technology significantly speeds up the flow of information within the virtual enterprise. This paper includes the proposal of a multi-agent approach for the integration of processes within the virtual enterprise concept. The presented concept was elaborated to investigate the possible solutions of the ways of transmission of information in the production system taking into account the self-organization of constituent components. Thus it implicated the linking of the concept of multi-agent system with the system of managing the production information, based on the idea of e-manufacturing. The paper presents resulting scheme that should be the base for elaborating an informatics model of the target virtual system. The computer system itself is intended to be developed next.

Custom-Made Cloud Enterprise Architecture for Small Medium and Micro Enterprises

Small, Medium, and Micro enterprises (SMMEs) usually do not have adequate funds to acquire ICT infrastructure and often use cloud computing. In this paper, the authors discuss the implementation of virtual enterprises (VE) to enable SMMEs to respond quickly to customers’ demands and market opportunities. The virtual enterprise model is based on the ability to create temporary co-operations and realize the value of a short term business opportunity that the partners cannot fully capture on their own. The model of virtual enterprise is made possible through virtualisation technology, which is a building block of cloud computing. To achieve a common goal, enterprises integrate resources, organisational models, and process models. Through the virtual business operating environment offered by cloud computing, the SMMEs are able to increase productivity and gain competitive advantage due to the cost benefit incurred. In this paper, the authors propose a virtual enterprise enabled cloud enterprise architecture based on the concept of virtual enterprise at both business and technology levels. The business level comprises of organisational models, process models, skills, and competences whereas the technology level comprises of IT resources.

Holonic Engineering Data Management Framework for Allied Concurrent Engineering

Virtual enterprise and concurrent engineering are two of the most promising business strategies to address global competition. By unifying the concepts of virtual enterprise and concurrent engineering, allied concurrent engineering aims to integrate the engineering activities and resources from different enterprises through enterprise alliances to quickly respond to customer expectations. This paper presents a holonic system framework for engineering data management to support allied concurrent engineering. The framework is designed based on the concepts of holonic systems to reflect the distributed, collaborative, agile, dispersed and heterogeneous natures of allied concurrent engineering processes. In the proposed framework, key elements such as information items, libraries, and information management units etc. are defined as “holons” which have autonomous, cooperative and configurable properties.

An integrated optimization algorithm of GA and ACA-based approaches for modeling virtual enterprise partner selection

In the emerging information age, traditional enterprises have been increasingly replaced by virtual enterprises because they are incompatible with new business environments. The virtual enterprise, also called the dynamic alliance, gradually becomes a new organization pattern. In the process of establishing virtual enterprises, the appropriate method of partner selection is one of key problems. After reviewing the virtual enterprise concept, characteristics, and constitution, this paper proposes a hybrid algorithm in which it fuses the Genetic Algorithm (GA) into an Ant Colony Optimization Algorithm (ACA) for optimizing the problem of partner selection. The paper briefly analyzes some flaws and merits in both ACA and GA methods and proposes the benefits and necessity of applying the integration of GA into ACA to resolve partner selection problems. A hybrid algorithm is then presented for optimizing the problem of virtual enterprise partner selection. Finally, the result of an illustrative numerical case demonstrates the integrated algorithm, showing better performance in both efficiency and effectiveness than the GA and ACA methods in partner selection. The conclusions in this paper can be useful for guiding problem solving in similar virtual enterprise scenarios.

A hybrid control architecture and coordination mechanism in virtual manufacturing enterprise

The concept of Virtual Enterprise (VE), a special organization of manufacturing units and enterprises, has attracted considerable attention in recent years. Unlike traditional enterprise, VE is most suitable in production environments that experience frequent changes in product mix. To complete a complex task composed of some sub-tasks, traditional control architecture is not versatile enough to coordinate and schedule multi-site and multi-type resources, especially in resolving resource conflicts during operations. Using hybrid control architecture, VE can execute the effective control on multi-site enterprises to support the rapid response to customer demands. Coordination mechanism running through the total life cycle of VE is applied to coordinating and scheduling the requests from different tasks and resources, which make VE flexible, adaptive and robust. In this paper, the hybrid control architecture based on multi-agent technology that supports the cooperation of enterprises is presented. Coordination mechanism and the corresponding optimal models are discussed. Finally a case study is used as an illustration to present the detailed coordination mechanism.

Design and Implementation of a Cooperative Enterprise Selection Mechanism for Allied Concurrent Engineering Environment

Allied concurrent engineering (ACE), which combines the concepts of virtual enterprise (VE) and concurrent engineering (CE), is a highly promising business strategy for enterprises in facing global competition. ACE is designed to integrate the activities, resources, information, and organization of enterprises via enterprise alliances, thus minimizing cost, increasing competitiveness, and achieving rapid response to customer expectations. However, success of ACE depends on effective and close cooperation among allied enterprises. Selecting cooperative partners in the context of ACE thus becomes pivotal in enhancing the efficiency of ACE. This study designs and implements a cooperative enterprise selection mechanism for ACE environment. In designing this mechanism, the model and evaluation indicators for selecting cooperative enterprises for ACE are first established. Subsequently, the evaluation indicators with fuzzy semantics are quantified as the weight value via FAHP (Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process) and made into a hierarchical structure. The TOPSIS (Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution) technique is then applied to evaluate suitable cooperative enterprises, ultimately select the best cooperative enterprise and consequently increase the cooperation effectiveness of allied enterprises. Finally, an illustrative example is presented and the system is implemented to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed approach.

Virtual enterprise and e-business: a case study in a Brazilian aircraft company

The aim of this paper is to investigate the use of Virtual Organisation (VO) and Virtual Enterprise (VE) conceptions in the most important Brazilian aircraft company Embraer, and to analyse the main impacts of these conceptions on its competitiveness power. The methodological framework is based on a unique case study supported by data collection techniques involving some strategic departments of the Brazilian aircraft company, especially Research and Development (R&D), engineering, Supply Chain Management (SCM) and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) areas. Moreover, this work intends to question some existing myths about the extension of the VE application and try to identify some technical and organisational obstacles and solutions concerning the implementation and development of the VO and VE concepts in this case.

Parallel discrete event simulation algorithm for manufacturing supply chains

Parallel discrete event simulation (PDES) is concerned with the distributed execution of large-scale system models on multiple processors. It is an enabler in the implementation of the virtual enterprise concept, integrating semi-autonomous models of production cells, factories, or units of a supply chain. The key issue in PDES is to maintain causality relationships between system events, while maximizing parallelism in their execution. Events can be executed conservatively only when it is safe to do so, sacrificing the extent to which potential parallelism of the system can be exploited. Alternatively, they can be processed optimistically without guarantee of correctness, but incurring the overhead of a rollback to an earlier saved state when causality error is detected. The paper proposes a modified optimistic scheme for distributed simulation of constituent models of a supply chain in manufacturing, which exploits the inherent operating characteristics of its domain.

Integrating air transport elicits the need to harmonise software certification while maintaining safety and achieving security

Both Europe and the US have set ambitious new goals to improve air transport by simultaneously increasing capacity, reducing cost while improving an already impressive safety record. This requires integration of the systems of the various actors involved. The virtual enterprise concept, supported by a network-centric architecture, offers one possible solution. A prototype demonstrates the technical feasibility of this approach. Work on a certifiable safety-critical Java subset, the language used to implement the prototype, demonstrates the technical feasibility for each required safety level. Unfortunately, current software certification standards differ for the various systems involved, imposing different and sometimes even non-compatible requirements. Based on the certification requirements of the prototyped services the applicable software certification standards are assessed. Network-centric solutions are based on the extensive use of Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) products and services. COTS is predicated on multiple users for a product or service, so the relevance of software certification schemes from other safety-conscious domains for air transport is reviewed to arrive at recommendations to improve the software certification process. Without special provisions network-centric systems could lead to a new type of security vulnerability. Two remedial approaches, security certification and COTS security solutions are discussed below.

ENABLING TECHNOLOGIES FOR THE CREATION AND RESTRUCTURING PROCESS OF EMERGENT ENTERPRISE ALLIANCES

In today's world, it is of utterly importance for enterprises to react in a timely and flexible way to upcoming complex market demands. One solution is given by the concept of virtual enterprise and enterprise alliances, respectively. In order to function efficiently and flexibly such enterprises need to be deeply integrated. Based on previous work combining the concepts of virtual enterprises, holonic organizations and multi-agent systems to support such deep integration, the paper discusses in detail how well-suiting partners and contributors for a given (bunch of) task(s) can be found using today's state-of-the-art technologies. Mapping an enterprise alliance onto a multi-agent system is enabled by a methodology equipping each agent with the ability to deal and consider its own goals (goals of the unit it represents) as well as the goals of the unit in which it is integrated (the higher level unit).

Feature-based collaborative design

With the appearance of the concept of virtual enterprise, it is necessary to develop a system that can support the collaborative work of multi-disciplinary groups distributed in different places. This paper puts forward a feature-based collaborative design system; briefly presents a model of collaborative design and the definition, classification and relationship of the features in this system; discusses key techniques related to realizing feature-based collaborative design in detail; and finally gives the architecture of the feature-based collaborative design system.

Virtual enterprise and its intelligence management

Virtual enterprise (VE) will be the efficient organization form in the future owing to the rapid development of computer techniques and information technology. This paper exposes systematically the concept of VE and its structure. Methodology for intelligentized management is described. An integrated system based on client/server is proposed, which is useful for intelligent decision making in VE management.

A client-broker-server architecture of a virtual enterprise for cutting stock applications

Cutting workpieces of given shapes and sizes from an object of larger dimensions with minimal material loss is a practical problem whose optimal or suboptimal solutions have great economic value in many applications. The solution to this problem often requires automated tools, which may not be achievable for small and medium sized enterprises. For this, an approach is proposed based on the concept of virtual enterprise using a client-broker-server architecture as an implementational model. Details of the architecture and its implementation are analysed.

Flexibility and safety in a web-based infrastructure for virtual enterprises

The concept of virtual enterprise is promoted by the current market and economic conditions worldwide, and facilitated by the recent developments in both information and communication technologies. A large number of international research and development projects are also contributing to the development of basic models and supporting infrastructures. However, there is still the need to develop general infrastructures that support flexible and safe cooperation among enterprises. The Esprit PRODNET II project designed and implemented an open infrastructure to support industrial virtual enterprises with special focus on the needs of small-and medium-sized enterprises. The proposed architecture is described summarizing its main components. The federated approach for information sharing and management is described, and the implemented mechanisms to support secure communications over the Internet are presented. Finally, the creation and configuration steps for a virtual enterprise are discussed.

Distributed planning and control systems for the virtual enterprise: organizational requirements and development life-cycle

This paper describes the requirements analysis and system specification of an Order Promise module to be used as part of a broader Decision Support System for production and operations planning of a Virtual Enterprise. This work is part of a broader project with a particular focus on the microelectronics industry which is a good example of Virtual Enterprise, and where a quick response to the customers needs and to unpredictable changes in production conditions is considered a major factor for success. First, the analysis and specification are presented within a development framework that involves the study of organizational issues of semiconductor enterprises. The use of ontological engineering for supporting the communication and shared understanding of the system concepts is explained and a virtual enterprise ontology is outlined. Following the clarification of the concept of virtual enterprise, the generic techno-organizational requirements for the information system are derived. Finally, a specification of the global planning module and a more detailed one regarding the order promise module is presented.

Design and implementation of a collaborative engineering information system for allied concurrent engineering

Allied concurrent engineering is defined by unifying the concepts of virtual enterprise and concurrent engineering in the engineering processes. It aims to integrate the engineering activities and resources from different enterprises through enterprise alliances to respond to customer expectations quickly. The integration, management and sharing of engineering information is the basis for allied concurrent engineering. This paper presents a systematic approach, from domain investigation and functional requirement analysis, through system design and modelling to implementation of an engineering information system that makes use of various modelling techniques. The system aims at quickly providing the right information to the right place at the right time in the right formats throughout the inter-enterprise concurrent engineering processes to facilitate communication, coordination, control and integration of multi-enterprise concurrent product and process development. The result of this research will enable the practice of allied concurrent engineering and consequently help increase product development capability and quality, reduce development cycle time and cost, and hence increase product marketability.

A Virtual Enterprise in Mexico: From Concepts to Practice

Latin American economy is growing fast and national enterprises are looking for new ways of improving their competitive position against international firms, specially small and medium enterprises. The concept of Virtual Enterprises can be a new way to do business and exploit business opportunities for these companies. In this report we will discuss the Framework for Virtual Enterprises developed in the Alfa Project called COSME-GVE (Global Virtual Enterprise) and a case of study based on experiences of a Mexican Company is also presented.

A Systematic Approach of Virtual Enterprising Through Knowledge Management Techniques

Virtual enterprising is viewed as one of the most promising business strategies for manufacturing industries to meet global competition The essence of virtual enterprising is to integrate the processes, activities, and resources from different enterprises through enterprise alliance and thereby quickly respond to customer expectations The management and sharing of knowledge across enter pnses is the basis for virtual enterprising. A development of a knowledge management and sharing system involves not only the tech nologies of communication, information, collaborative workflow and software engineering but also managing the characteristics and pro cesses of a satellite set of allied-enterprises. The development of an effective knowledge management system is still a technical challenge for virtual enterprising. In this context, information and data shanng are considered parts of a knowledge management (KM) function This paper presents a systematic approach to the development of a prototype knowledge management (KM) system that is able to support the intricacies of virtual enterprising. The prototype KM system development is done in two parts. The first part focuses on the characterization, definition, and modeling of virtual enterprises. The second part concentrates on design and modeling of an information sharing system. The output of the second part is a knowledge management (KM) system A prototype version of KM is developed in this case to test the underlying two-part approach proposed here. The proposed approach is however, quite general and is directed towards realizing most of the concepts of virtual enterprise, and thus achieving the goals of virtual enterprising