A Manufacturing Reference Model for the Enterprise Engineer

This paper presents a manufacturing reference model for enterprise engineering. Enterprise Engineering is defined as that body of knowledge, principles, and practices having to do with the analysis, design, implementation and operation of an enterprise. A common understanding of the enterprise is critical for any improvement effort. Modeling is an approach to providing a common understanding of the enterprise and how to achieve its desired future condition. A reference model is a model which provides a basis for developing a more detailed model for a specific instance of an enterprise. This paper provides an overview of models, a description of their use, a survey of other enterprise reference models, and a description of the manufacturing enterprise reference model.