Implementing Manufacturing as a Service platforms in a supply chain B2B resilient Data Space
Concept and objectives: Manufacturing as a Service (MaaS) is a distributed system of production in which resources (including data and software) are offered as services, allowing manufacturers to access distributed providers to implement their manufacturing processes.
The adoption of MaaS implies several different challenges from the social, business and technological viewpoints. This session is focusing on this last ICT point, by analysing how the concept of MaaS Platform has been differently interpreted in three of the HORIZON EUROPE research and innovation actions funded under the HORIZON-CL4-2023-TWIN-TRANSITION-01-07 topic Achieving resiliency in value networks through modelling and Manufacturing as a Service (Made in Europe Partnership):
- MAASive (Manufacturing As A Service to Increase resilience in ValuE networks -) aims at developing models of resilient value networks to allow the assessment of impacts of unforeseen events and to servitize existing manufacturing assets in multiple organizations that can be orchestrated and reorchestrated to address such events.
- NARRATE (regeNerAtive Resilient smaRt mAnufacTuring nEtworks) is developing an AI-powered platform that integrates Digital Twin and IoT technologies to transform supply chains into Smart Manufacturing Networks (SMNs). At its core is the Intelligent Manufacturing Custodian (IMC) that uses Digital Twins to provide predictive insights, real-time monitoring, and proactive decision-making. This IMC–Digital Twin connection unlocks programmable Manufacturing-as-a-Service (MaaS) capabilities using knowledge representation mechanisms and a Digital Twin-specific language, enabling SMNs become resilient, self-orchestrated ecosystems that can anticipate disruptions, optimize operations, and advance sustainability across the entire production chain.
- M4ESTRO: (end-to-end trustworthy and transparent Manufacturing-as-a-Service platfORm) is building a trustworthy Manufacturing-as-a-Service platform. This collaborative ecosystem uses Smart SLAs to securely orchestrate distributed production. It integrates predictive resilience and a human-centric approach, supporting workforce upskilling and embedding circular models like remanufacturing to advance sustainable value networks.
State of the Art MaaS platforms (see I4MS Phase IV projects in H2020 such as DIGITbrain AI REGIO and Change2twin) are one-stop-shops for advanced digital services, playing the role of fully centralized service marketplaces. The advent of B2B Data Spaces frameworks and technologies (e.g. IDSA Design Principles and DSSC Building Blocks for DSs) is dramatically revolutionizing this approach in two main directions: I) on the one side the provision of services based on confidential datasets governed by trusted and secure data sovereignty access and usage rights (see also the Data Act provisions); II) on the other side a fully distributed, dynamic and resilient ecosystem of Data Products on top of which to develop a new generation of decentralized MaaS services.
In fact, B2B Data Spaces at the basis of MaaS ecosystems imply not just the presence of a centralized one-stop-shop, but mostly I) the development of a Data Sharing infrastructure managing security and confidentiality (connectors, identity management, brokers); II) the creation of high value distributed FAIR Data Sets (static, dynamic, streams, at rest, fixed files, parametric queries) under well defined data models and semantic interoperability rules (vocabulary, data transformation): III) the definition and application of business governance rules among the different stakeholders of the value chain.
- MAASive will present the current status of its Platform with particular emphasis on the KAMSTRUP industrial cases
- NARRATE will present the current status of its Intelligent Manufacturing Custodian focusing on advanced Digital Twin technologies on the basis of the MEDWOOD industrial case.
- M4ESTRO will present the current status of its Intelligent platform, focusing on AI-driven optimization and the IMECH-FAE pilot case
Presentations
Opening Slides – Sergio Gusmeroli
