Cross-Functional Process Integration and the Integrated Data Environment

Abstract

This paper demonstrates how to plan for large-scale enterprise integration implementations using modern integrated planning methodologies. The focus is on cross-functional process integration in a manufacturing environment. The subjects covered are

• Integrated Data Environment,

• System alignment and standard software solutions.

• Planning for the Integrated Data Environment.

• Vertical and horizontal integration, and

• Integrated enterprise modeling.

The planning concepts are developed in some detail, specifically focusing on cross-functional processes. Emphasis is placed on vertically integrating the organization through various levels, including the strategic planning, requirements definition (business process), design specification, and implementation description levels. The approach includes the linking of business objectives to functions that are embedded within processes that flow horizontally across organizational domains. The proper name for the vertical and horizontal (cross-functional) integration methodology is Integrated Process Engineering (IPE).

In the horizontal dimension, emphasis is placed on integrating the static data, organization, and function views within a dynamic process-oriented control view. While the vertically oriented strategic planning integration must be done manually, a modern integrated planning toolset will be used to describe the lower business process and data integration tasks. The selected methodology is the Architecture of Integrated Information Systems (ARIS), and the supporting tool is the ARIS Toolset (Scheer, 1992). The ARIS methodology is consistent with many public and private sector planning methodologies, including those required in the U.S. Defense Department’s Technical Architecture Framework for Information Management (TAFIM — Volume IV).

The paper also demonstrates how many organizations are creating the Integrated Data Environment (IDE), a central Continuous Acquisition and Life-cycle Support (CALS) requirement. Several possibilities for creating an Integrated Data Environment in CALS and CALS-like systems are reviewed. The focus of this presentation is Commercial-CALS, but the parallels are drawn with Defense-CALS.