A Multi-perspective Model of Smart Products for Designing Web-Based Services on the Production Chain

In this paper, we propose a multi-perspective model for smart products as a basis to implement advanced web-based services in the smart factory production chain. The model relies on three perspectives that are: the product, the production process and the work centers involved in the production chain. For each perspective, the physical world is connected with the cyber world, where collected sensor data is properly organised to enable data analysis and exploration according to the three perspectives in an interleaved way. A portfolio of web-based services at production chain level is also described according to the model. Among them, a data access dashboard has been designed in order to enable controlled exploration of production chain data for different actors involved in the production activities, ranging from the suppliers to the producer of the final product. The approach is devoted to the production of costly and complex products, where the conceptualisation of a Smart Product as the integration of product, process and infrastructure sensor data aims at ensuring high product quality levels, long lasting operativity, less frequent and efficient maintenance activities and constant performances over time.