Variability management for automated production systems using product lines and feature models
Birgit Vogel‐Heuser, Thomas M. Simon, Juliane Fischer · 2016
Increasing numbers of variants and versions in the domain of automated Production Systems (aPS) demand appropriate methods to handle this variability. While software product lines (SPLs), often in combination with feature modelling, are already well established in the domain of information systems, up to now SPLs are rarely used in the domain of aPS. Also, SPLs for aPS need to include variants and versions in mechanic and electric besides software leading to interdisciplinary product lines (IPLs). In this paper an existing approach of an IPL is enhanced with extended feature modelling methods and SPLs and, subsequently, applied to two industrial case studies - one in special purpose machinery and the other in plant manufacturing. Challenges for such automated Production Systems are discussed.