WP 1 Create System Dynamics Model of Living Systems for Simulation and Gaming.

Dear  all - this is a refined draft of the initial Erasmus+ Knowledge Alliance Workpackage with a focus on industrial whole product lifecycles. Comments appreciated as we work to refine and align with the potential workpackage owner. Please note that the supporting workpackages are intended for project participants either owning other workpackages or interested in supporting workpackages only. The image is drawn from the system dynamics simulation Vensim as is exemplary only - we will need to build our own in an "open source tool" which the workpackage team will need to select. If you are interested in a supporting workpackage please contact oliver.schwabe@innovation-web.eu - you will be expected to contribute to shaping this and your own workpackage.

Description

This implementation workpackage sets the foundation for the project. The aim of the workpackage is to create a model of the performance indicators of the living system through which an innovation travels from ideation to market saturation. The workpackage converts the industrial whole product life cycle processes of six manufacturing organizations into a system dynamics model describing the interdependency of the key systemic performance indicators. This involves converting the processes into a series of interdependent value networks in order to obtain a living systems perspective, converting the value networks into a process based system dynamics model and then converting that into a performance indicator based system dynamics model. The model will initially be created in Open Office and permit simulation of innovation speed based on varying input parameters (scenarios). The model will furthermore be designed for the use as a game to support a variety of learning tools and techniques to be developed during the rest of the project.  A geometrical framework for dependency modelling is then used to visualise the values of these indicators as a radial polar force field and the concept of field symmetry is applied as an indicator of innovation speed.

Tasks

The estimated start date is month #1 of the project and the estimated end date is month 12 of the project, although the team will continue to support other workpackages during the complete duration of the project. All tasks will be made transparent to the public as open access and public domain. The tasks of the workpackage are:

• Conduct half-day workshops with participating manufacturing companies to train them in the workpackage approach and gather needed whole product life cycle information.
• Conduct one hour monthly alignment calls with each participating manufacturing company to inform of workpackage progress.
• Conduct one hour monthly alignment calls with all project participants to inform of workpackage progress.
• Convert six manufacturing whole product life cycles into a phased aggregated process model.
• Convert the aggregated process model into a phased value network.
• Convert the value network into a phased process based system dynamics model.
• Create a phased systemic performance indicator based system dynamics model.
• Create an aggregated systemic performance indicator based system dynamics model.
• Create a pilot simulator at the middle of the workpackage (including detailed handbook, application training materials and a handbook of most relevant scenario and gaming exercises).
• Train project participants in the pilot simulator.
• Transfer pilot simulator to the workpackage “Refresh Needs Analysis and Prepare Case Studies.” at the middle of the workpackage.
• Conduct half-day workshops with participating manufacturing companies to validate results and train them in the pilot simulator.
• Create initial full version of simulator at the end of the workpackage (including detailed handbook, application training materials and a handbook of most relevant scenario and gaming exercises).
• Train project participants in the initial full version of the simulator.
• Conduct initial and validation half-day workshops with participating manufacturing companies.
• Train participating manufacturing companies in the initial full version of the simulator.
• Conduct one hour monthly alignment calls with group of participating manufacturing companies.
• Manage a supporting Masters project.
• Define and coordinate six supporting workpackages of 160 hours each.
• Support all other workpackages in using simulation tool.
• Create an online version of the simulation which is free for non-commercial use at the end of year 2 of the project.

Deliverables

The deliverables are outcomes of the tasks and will be made available in the public domain.

• Formal meeting notes from all meetings and workshops.
• A phased aggregated model of six whole product life cycle processes.
• A phased value network.
• A phased process based system dynamics model.
• A phased systemic performance indicator based system dynamics model.
• An aggregated systemic performance indicator based system dynamics model.
• A pilot simulator at the middle of the workpackage (including detailed handbook, application training materials and a handbook of most relevant scenario and gaming exercises).
• Training of project participants in the pilot simulator.
• Training of participating manufacturing companies to validate results and train them in the pilot simulator.
• An initial full version of simulator at the end of the workpackage (including detailed handbook, application training materials and a handbook of most relevant scenario and gaming exercises).
• Training of project participants in the initial full version of the simulator.
• Training of participating manufacturing companies in the initial full version of the simulator.
• An online version of the simulation which is free for non-commercial use at the end of year 2 of the project.

Resourcing

This workpackage will run for 12 consecutive months and will be primarily resourced by two full time researchers and a full time programmer. The two workpackage researchers and the programmer will then support all further workpackages as subject matter experts with 20% of their time in training, applying, maintaining and refining the simulation. The creation of the online simulation version at the end of year 2 is planned to consume three months of work by the two full time researchers and the programmer.

If you are interested in learning more please visit us at www.innovation-web.eu, our LinkedIn Group at https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8779542/, our blog at https://www.innovation-web.eu/entov-hvm-blog, our Researchgate project page at https://www.researchgate.net/project/Open-European-Network-for-Enterprise-Innovation-in-High-Value-Manufacturing-ENTOV-HVM and our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2014779865300180/. You can also follow us via Twitter: @owschwabe (#innovationweb) and the LinkedIn Group page https://www.linkedin.com/company/entov.