A web tool supporting the management and use of electronic module descriptions for Evolvable Production Systems

The paper presents a web based tool for managing and utilising the file formats specified by recently developed Emplacement Concept. The Emplacement Concept can be utilised in various phases during the design, deployment and execution of modular Evolvable/Reconfigurable Assembly Systems. The concept specifies the assembly modules in formalised, XML based electronic description formats, which consist at the moment Emplacement and Blue Print file formats. The former is used for abstract level specifications and for harmonisation of modules. The latter is the virtual representation of the module itself provided by the module vendor. The module interfaces, capabilities (i.e. skills) and standardised processes definitions play important role within the concept. The paper focuses on a web based tool called Emplacement Web Service and the features it has. It presents how the tool fits together with the Emplacement Concept, how it can be used to support the Evolvable Production Systems, and who are the main users of this tool and how they can take advantage of it. Also some other tools supporting the concept are mentioned.