Modeling operations management support systems

An abstract model for operations management support systems (OMSSs) is proposed. These are systems that provide end-users with intelligent support based on comprehensive and up-to-date knowledge of overall system status. In the model, a system is represented as a collection of distributed intelligent objects, each encapsulating data, process, and other knowledge associated with an operation. The model uses production rules and separates data, procedural knowledge, and control knowledge within an object. It is demonstrated how to extend object modeling to include control knowledge within objects and how to introduce structure and software engineering principles in knowledge modeling systems such as production systems