In Europe, manufacturing is the largest of the NACE sections for the non-financial business. Back 2008, it contributed with 24.2% of the workforce and 27.1% of the value added. However, due to the economic crisis EU countries are undergoing, GDP is still likely to stagnate, the economic growth is expected to be low in the near future and some 3.25 million jobs have been already lost. Now, more than ever, Europe’s need for productivity growth has become more pressing against both the low rate of economic growth and the international financial crisis that is clouding the outlook for all companies. Modern IT is a key factor for the future of manufacturing, especially simulations and virtual reality will contribute to the innovative developments of complex products and processes. Widespread use of ICT in industry is the cornerstone of productivity and thus of economic growth.
MAYA aims at developing simulation methodologies and multidisciplinary tools for the design, engineering and management of CPS-based (Cyber Physical Systems) Factories, in order to strategically support production-related activities during all the phases of the factory life-cycle. The concurrence and the cross-combination of the Cyber and the Physical dimensions with the Simulation domain is considered as cornerstone in MAYA innovations, to successfully address a new generation of smart factories for future industry responsiveness. MAYA finds complete validation in one of the most competitive, advanced and complex industrial sector in Europe, the automotive (with two use-cases: VOLKSWAGEN and FINNPOWER), where it will accomplish reduced time to production and reduced time to optimization.
In order to realize such a vision, MAYA addresses actual technological constraints through research and development activities focusing on the following three high level objectives:
1. MAYA for Digital Continuity: MAYA will support digital continuity developing a standardized, open semantic meta-model capable to fully describe the properties and functional characteristics of the CPS simulation models, as a key element to empower multidisciplinary simulation tools
2. MAYA for the Synchronization of the Digital and Real Factory: MAYA will support synchronization of digital and real factory creating the infrastructure to support seamless data flow from real to simulated devices
3. MAYA for Multidisciplinary integrated simulation and modelling: the new envisioned meta-model, together with the reference framework, represents the key enablers to implement real multi-disciplinary simulations
MAYA’s concept and motivation have been born within the framework set by the Pathfinder initiative, and represent a concrete first step to empower the vision that is there drafted and consolidated, thanks to the contribution of several academic experts and industrial key-players.
