An integrated framework for manufacturing automation based on capabilities and skills
Translated title
Ein integriertes Framework für die Produktionsautomatisierung auf Basis von Capabilities und Skills
Publication date
2026-04-28
Document type
Dissertation
Author
Advisor
Referee
Granting institution
Helmut-Schmidt-Universität / Universität der Bundeswehr Hamburg
Exam date
2026-04-14
Organisational unit
Publisher
Universitätsbibliothek der HSU/UniBw H
Part of the university bibliography
✅
File(s)
Language
English
DDC Class
620 Ingenieurwissenschaften
Keyword
Capabilities
Skills
Manufacturing
Automation
Engineering
Semantic Web Technologies
Ontologies
Abstract
EN:
Modern manufacturing systems must adapt to an increasing variety of product variants and dynamic conditions. This requires flexible integration, modification, and replacement of machines, which necessitates computer-interpretable descriptions of their functions. These descriptions are essential for interoperability and automated manufacturing planning. In research, capabilities and skills have been established as key concepts. In this context, capabilities describe implementation-independent specifications of functions in industrial production, whereas skills represent the executable and encapsulated implementations of these functions.
This dissertation presents a unified framework that addresses existing research gaps and systematically integrates capabilities and skills into both the engineering and operation of manufacturing systems. First, an ontology is introduced that semantically links both concepts and ensures a high degree of reusability through the use of established standards. An engineering methodology enables the largely automated creation of capabilities and skills. In addition, a planning approach is presented that generates manufacturing processes based on available capabilities, thereby ensuring high adaptability to changing manufacturing systems. Finally, an orchestration and execution methodology is introduced that automatically executes planned processes using skills.
The developed framework has been prototypically implemented and evaluated in different application scenarios. The results show that capabilities and skills can be efficiently created, manufacturing processes can be automatically planned, and their execution can be orchestrated using the framework. This work thus makes a systematic contribution to the flexible and automated utilization of machine capabilities in modern manufacturing.
Modern manufacturing systems must adapt to an increasing variety of product variants and dynamic conditions. This requires flexible integration, modification, and replacement of machines, which necessitates computer-interpretable descriptions of their functions. These descriptions are essential for interoperability and automated manufacturing planning. In research, capabilities and skills have been established as key concepts. In this context, capabilities describe implementation-independent specifications of functions in industrial production, whereas skills represent the executable and encapsulated implementations of these functions.
This dissertation presents a unified framework that addresses existing research gaps and systematically integrates capabilities and skills into both the engineering and operation of manufacturing systems. First, an ontology is introduced that semantically links both concepts and ensures a high degree of reusability through the use of established standards. An engineering methodology enables the largely automated creation of capabilities and skills. In addition, a planning approach is presented that generates manufacturing processes based on available capabilities, thereby ensuring high adaptability to changing manufacturing systems. Finally, an orchestration and execution methodology is introduced that automatically executes planned processes using skills.
The developed framework has been prototypically implemented and evaluated in different application scenarios. The results show that capabilities and skills can be efficiently created, manufacturing processes can be automatically planned, and their execution can be orchestrated using the framework. This work thus makes a systematic contribution to the flexible and automated utilization of machine capabilities in modern manufacturing.
DE:
Moderne Produktionssysteme müssen sich an eine wachsende Variantenvielfalt und dynamische Rahmenbedingungen anpassen. Dazu ist ein flexibles Integrieren, Anpassen und Austauschen von Maschinen nötig, was maschinenlesbare Funktionsbeschreibungen voraussetzt. Diese sind essenziell für die Interoperabilität und die automatisierte Produktionsplanung. In der Forschung haben sich dafür Capabilities und Skills etabliert. Dabei beschreiben Capabilities implementierungsunabhängige Spezifikationen von Funktionen in der industriellen Produktion, während Skills die ausführbaren und gekapselten Implementierungen dieser Funktionen darstellen.
In dieser Dissertation wird ein integriertes Framework beschrieben, das Capabilities und Skills systematisch in das Engineering und den Betrieb von Produktionssystemen einbindet. Dazu wird zunächst eine Ontologie vorgestellt, die beide Konzepte semantisch verknüpft und durch den Einsatz von Standards eine hohe Wiederverwendbarkeit gewährleistet. Eine Engineering-Methodik ermöglicht die weitgehend automatisierte Erstellung von Capabilities und Skills. Ergänzend dazu wird ein Planungsansatz präsentiert, der Produktionsabläufe auf Basis der vorhandenen Capabilities generiert und eine hohe Anpassungsfähigkeit an veränderte Anlagen sicherstellt. Abschließend wird eine Orchestrierungs- und Ausführungsmethodik eingeführt, die geplante Abläufe automatisch mittels Skills ausführt.
Das entwickelte Framework wurde prototypisch umgesetzt und in verschiedenen Anwendungsszenarien evaluiert. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass mit dem Framework Capabilities und Skills effizient erstellt, Produktionsabläufe automatisiert geplant und deren Ausführung orchestriert werden können. Diese Arbeit leistet somit einen systematischen Beitrag zur flexiblen, automatisierten Nutzung von Maschinenfähigkeiten in der modernen Produktion.
Moderne Produktionssysteme müssen sich an eine wachsende Variantenvielfalt und dynamische Rahmenbedingungen anpassen. Dazu ist ein flexibles Integrieren, Anpassen und Austauschen von Maschinen nötig, was maschinenlesbare Funktionsbeschreibungen voraussetzt. Diese sind essenziell für die Interoperabilität und die automatisierte Produktionsplanung. In der Forschung haben sich dafür Capabilities und Skills etabliert. Dabei beschreiben Capabilities implementierungsunabhängige Spezifikationen von Funktionen in der industriellen Produktion, während Skills die ausführbaren und gekapselten Implementierungen dieser Funktionen darstellen.
In dieser Dissertation wird ein integriertes Framework beschrieben, das Capabilities und Skills systematisch in das Engineering und den Betrieb von Produktionssystemen einbindet. Dazu wird zunächst eine Ontologie vorgestellt, die beide Konzepte semantisch verknüpft und durch den Einsatz von Standards eine hohe Wiederverwendbarkeit gewährleistet. Eine Engineering-Methodik ermöglicht die weitgehend automatisierte Erstellung von Capabilities und Skills. Ergänzend dazu wird ein Planungsansatz präsentiert, der Produktionsabläufe auf Basis der vorhandenen Capabilities generiert und eine hohe Anpassungsfähigkeit an veränderte Anlagen sicherstellt. Abschließend wird eine Orchestrierungs- und Ausführungsmethodik eingeführt, die geplante Abläufe automatisch mittels Skills ausführt.
Das entwickelte Framework wurde prototypisch umgesetzt und in verschiedenen Anwendungsszenarien evaluiert. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass mit dem Framework Capabilities und Skills effizient erstellt, Produktionsabläufe automatisiert geplant und deren Ausführung orchestriert werden können. Diese Arbeit leistet somit einen systematischen Beitrag zur flexiblen, automatisierten Nutzung von Maschinenfähigkeiten in der modernen Produktion.
Description
Contents:
Acronyms
List of Figures
List of Tables
List of Listings
1 Introduction
1.1 Motivation of this Dissertation
1.2 Definition of the Terms Capability and Skill
1.3 Research Objective
1.4 Structure of this Dissertation
2 A Model of Machines, their Capabilities and Skills
2.1 Motivation for a Semantic Model of Capabilities and Skills
2.2 Foundations of Capability and Skill Modeling
2.2.1 Modeling Paradigms in Automation
2.2.2 Semantic Web Technologies
2.2.3 Ontology Development Methods
2.3 Requirements for a Model of Machine Capabilities and Skills
2.4 Related Work on Capabilities and Skills
2.4.1 Related Approaches Using Ontologies
2.4.2 Related Approaches Using Other Modeling Technologies
2.4.3 Discussion of Related Work
2.5 A Semantic Model of Machines, their Capabilities and Skills
2.5.1 Model Overview
2.5.2 Ontology Design Patterns
2.5.3 Alignment Ontology
2.5.4 Model Integrity Validation
2.6 Discussion of the Capability and Skill Model
3 Engineering Methodology for Capabilities and Skills
3.1 Motivation for a Capability and Skill Engineering Methodology
3.2 Foundations of Capability and Skill Engineering
3.2.1 Engineering of Manufacturing Systems
3.2.2 PLCs and PLC Open XML
3.2.3 Module Type Package
3.2.4 Ontology Mapping Technologies
3.2.5 OSGi
3.3 Requirements of a Capability and Skill Engineering Methodology
3.4 Related Work
3.4.1 Approaches to Support Skill and Capability Engineering
3.4.2 General Approaches to Automated Ontology Generation
3.4.3 Discussion of Related Work
3.5 A Methodology to Support Capability and Skill Engineering
3.5.1 Methodology Overview
3.5.2 Automated Generation of a Resource Model
3.5.3 User-Assisted Method to Define Capabilities
3.5.4 Methods to Develop Skills and Generate Skill Descriptions
3.6 Discussion of the Capability and Skill Engineering Methodology
4 Capability-Based Process Planning
4.1 Motivation for Capability-based Process Planning
4.2 Foundations of Capability-based Process Planning
4.2.1 Production and Process Planning
4.2.2 AI Planning
4.2.3 Satisfiability and Satisfiability Modulo Theories
4.3 Requirements for Capability-based Process Planning
4.4 Related Work on Capability-based Process Planning
4.4.1 Approaches to Capability Planning
4.4.2 General Approaches to Process Planning
4.4.3 Discussion of Related Work
4.5 An Approach to Process Planning with Capabilities and SMT
4.5.1 Capability Model Elements used for Planning
4.5.2 An SMT Encoding for Capability-Based Planning
4.5.3 Post-Processing of Plans
4.5.4 Implementation
4.6 Discussion of the Capability-Based Planning Method
5 Process Orchestration Using Capabilities and Skills
5.1 Motivation for Capability and Skill-Based Orchestration
5.2 Foundations of Process Modeling and Execution
5.2.1 Orchestration and Choreography
5.2.2 Process Modeling Languages
5.3 Requirements for a Process Model using Capabilities and Skills
5.4 Related Work on Process Orchestration
5.5 Method to Model and Execute Processes with Capabilities and Skills
5.5.1 Modeling Capability Processes
5.5.2 Executing Skill Processes
5.6 Discussion of the Orchestration Approach
6 Implementation of the Framework
7 Overall Evaluation of the Framework
7.1 Methodological Approach and Overview
7.2 Evaluation of Capability and Skill Engineering
7.2.1 Scenario 1: Modular Discrete Manufacturing Plant
7.2.2 Scenario 2: Modular Process Manufacturing Plant
7.2.3 Scenario 3: Automated Guided Vehicle
7.3 Evaluation of Capability Planning and Skill Execution
7.3.1 Scenario 1: Simple Process
7.3.2 Scenario 2: Advanced Process
7.3.3 Scenario 3: Explaining Reasons for Unsatisfiability
7.4 Discussion of Evaluation Results
8 Conclusion and Outlook
8.1 Summary
8.2 Limitations & Outlook
References
Appendices
Glossary
Acronyms
List of Figures
List of Tables
List of Listings
1 Introduction
1.1 Motivation of this Dissertation
1.2 Definition of the Terms Capability and Skill
1.3 Research Objective
1.4 Structure of this Dissertation
2 A Model of Machines, their Capabilities and Skills
2.1 Motivation for a Semantic Model of Capabilities and Skills
2.2 Foundations of Capability and Skill Modeling
2.2.1 Modeling Paradigms in Automation
2.2.2 Semantic Web Technologies
2.2.3 Ontology Development Methods
2.3 Requirements for a Model of Machine Capabilities and Skills
2.4 Related Work on Capabilities and Skills
2.4.1 Related Approaches Using Ontologies
2.4.2 Related Approaches Using Other Modeling Technologies
2.4.3 Discussion of Related Work
2.5 A Semantic Model of Machines, their Capabilities and Skills
2.5.1 Model Overview
2.5.2 Ontology Design Patterns
2.5.3 Alignment Ontology
2.5.4 Model Integrity Validation
2.6 Discussion of the Capability and Skill Model
3 Engineering Methodology for Capabilities and Skills
3.1 Motivation for a Capability and Skill Engineering Methodology
3.2 Foundations of Capability and Skill Engineering
3.2.1 Engineering of Manufacturing Systems
3.2.2 PLCs and PLC Open XML
3.2.3 Module Type Package
3.2.4 Ontology Mapping Technologies
3.2.5 OSGi
3.3 Requirements of a Capability and Skill Engineering Methodology
3.4 Related Work
3.4.1 Approaches to Support Skill and Capability Engineering
3.4.2 General Approaches to Automated Ontology Generation
3.4.3 Discussion of Related Work
3.5 A Methodology to Support Capability and Skill Engineering
3.5.1 Methodology Overview
3.5.2 Automated Generation of a Resource Model
3.5.3 User-Assisted Method to Define Capabilities
3.5.4 Methods to Develop Skills and Generate Skill Descriptions
3.6 Discussion of the Capability and Skill Engineering Methodology
4 Capability-Based Process Planning
4.1 Motivation for Capability-based Process Planning
4.2 Foundations of Capability-based Process Planning
4.2.1 Production and Process Planning
4.2.2 AI Planning
4.2.3 Satisfiability and Satisfiability Modulo Theories
4.3 Requirements for Capability-based Process Planning
4.4 Related Work on Capability-based Process Planning
4.4.1 Approaches to Capability Planning
4.4.2 General Approaches to Process Planning
4.4.3 Discussion of Related Work
4.5 An Approach to Process Planning with Capabilities and SMT
4.5.1 Capability Model Elements used for Planning
4.5.2 An SMT Encoding for Capability-Based Planning
4.5.3 Post-Processing of Plans
4.5.4 Implementation
4.6 Discussion of the Capability-Based Planning Method
5 Process Orchestration Using Capabilities and Skills
5.1 Motivation for Capability and Skill-Based Orchestration
5.2 Foundations of Process Modeling and Execution
5.2.1 Orchestration and Choreography
5.2.2 Process Modeling Languages
5.3 Requirements for a Process Model using Capabilities and Skills
5.4 Related Work on Process Orchestration
5.5 Method to Model and Execute Processes with Capabilities and Skills
5.5.1 Modeling Capability Processes
5.5.2 Executing Skill Processes
5.6 Discussion of the Orchestration Approach
6 Implementation of the Framework
7 Overall Evaluation of the Framework
7.1 Methodological Approach and Overview
7.2 Evaluation of Capability and Skill Engineering
7.2.1 Scenario 1: Modular Discrete Manufacturing Plant
7.2.2 Scenario 2: Modular Process Manufacturing Plant
7.2.3 Scenario 3: Automated Guided Vehicle
7.3 Evaluation of Capability Planning and Skill Execution
7.3.1 Scenario 1: Simple Process
7.3.2 Scenario 2: Advanced Process
7.3.3 Scenario 3: Explaining Reasons for Unsatisfiability
7.4 Discussion of Evaluation Results
8 Conclusion and Outlook
8.1 Summary
8.2 Limitations & Outlook
References
Appendices
Glossary
Version
Published version
Access right on openHSU
Open access