Incremental implementation of automated guided vehicle-based logistics using S-BPM: experience report of a digitalization project at ENGEL Austria

Abstract

The adoption of new digital technologies and decentralized control paradigms in the production industry requires incremental approaches for the transformation of existing processes and systems. This paper presents experiences from a digitalization project at ENGEL Austria that aims to introduce a new internal logistics system based on automated guided vehicles (AGVs). The project was carried out using Subject-oriented Business Process Management (S-BPM). In particular, subject interaction diagrams represent the increments in the transformation from an initial, largely human-operated system towards a highly automated AGV system. The diagrams led to a better understanding of the workers' tasks and what changes are required with every addition of a new component or new interaction with an existing component.