X-CITTIC is an integrated software tool set solution in support of the creation, planning and control of product orders through a global manufacturing virtual enterprise network. It utilizes the information backbone as provided by the business ERP and local MES systems. It does this through a support infrastructure based on CORBA with special interfaces to the various information sources, some central to the order taking company and some globally distributed according to the make-up of the virtual enterprise. The X-CITTIC information system supports the various X-CITTIC modules through its object model and data supply in real time. X-CITTIC's three main modules have both global and local components. The first is in support of the order taker who interfaces on-line to a customer. It supports multi-request handling in support of the globally distributed nature of order taking and provides feasibility checks against customer requests with respect to available capacity within the virtual enterprise whilst on-line with the customer and within one or two minutes. The second module is in support of the order planner and provides a time, resource and cost optimised network schedule for orders satisfying the agreed promises for delivery made through the order promise module. The third module is in support of the order expeditor and contains a reactive control decision making tool to take care of the dynamic order flow disruptions to the schedule and assists in improving delivery precision as well as a monitor to track orders through the virtual enterprise, to provide early warnings and to trigger the reactive control tool when appropriate.
Project URL: http://www.nimblesite.com./xcittic/main.stm