Cloud management tools for sustainable SMEs

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ScienceDirect Procedia CIRP 00 (2015) 000–000 www.elsevier.com/locate/procedia

13th Global Conference on Sustainable Manufacturing

Cloud management tools for sustainable SMEs Luis Rochaª*, Andrés Gomezᵇ, Nuno Araújoª, Carmen Oteroᶜ, David Rodriguesᵈ ªCATIM – Technological Centre for the Metal working Industry, Rua dos Plátanos 197, 4100-414 Porto, Portugal ᵇCESGA– Technological Centre for the Metal working Industry, Avda de Vigo, s/n -Campus Life- 15705 Santiago de Compostela - A Coruña, Spain ͨAIMEN – Technological Centre AIMEN, C/ Relva, 27 A. Torneiros - 36410 Porriño - Pontevedra, Spain ᵈAIMMAP –Portuguese Association of Metallurgical, Mechanical Engineering and Similar Industrial Companies, Rua dos Plátanos 197, 4100-414 Porto, Portugal

* Corresponding author. Tel.: +351-226159000; fax: +351-226159035. E-mail address: [email protected]

Abstract The purpose of this present work is to share the new developments of manufacturing support services. They are based on a set of tools available and accessible through Internet, and mainly oriented to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). This set of manufacturing and business tools is comprised of three main streams: Computer-aided engineering (CAE) software packages, a Product Life Cycle (PLM) tool, and an Open Innovation (OI) platform. These services are the output of the CloudPyme2 project (CPP2). It has the main goal of providing innovation tools for product development and manufacturing processes to SMEs in a sustainable and affordable way. This project provides these tools as an infrastructure using Cloud Services, including High Performance Computing (HPC), hosting platforms, support services and training. This new platform allows SMEs to improve their products and processes, or create new ones, in an affordable and efficient way. © 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. Peer-review under responsibility of Assembly Technology and Factory Management/Technische Universität Berlin. Keywords: Product design, Cloud Computing; PLM; Open Innovation.

1. Introduction This paper is reflecting the present status of CloudPYME project (CPP2, www.cloudpyme.eu). Currently, the project is in phase of incrementing the available features and tools for the target clients, SMEs. On the first phase, the concept was tested designing and deploying a computing infrastructure and associated services, following the Cloud Computing paradigm. It offered Open Source Software (OSS) for modelling and simulation and support services, giving the opportunity to SME´s to improve their products using advanced engineering tools at affordable prices and increasing the gains in several points of sustainability [1,2]. The objective for the current phase is to improve these modelling and simulation services and to add two new streams or features: a Product Life Cycle (PLM) service and an Open Innovation (OI) platform (Fig. 1). So, CPP2 aims to create a supercomputing infrastructure to improve the competitiveness and sustainability of SMEs by:

 Providing SMEs with access to HPC facilities to improve their international competitiveness in line with European recommendations. It comprises the design, deployment, and promotion of the mechanisms and tools necessary for SMEs to access HPC resources efficiently in order to make their production processes more competitive and develop high value-added solutions [3].  Supporting the implementation of OSS PLM tools by industrial SMEs. It will increase the level of management of their internal processes, to improve the efficiency in the development of new products.  Promoting the use of OI platforms aims by involving SMEs in a dynamic of permanent innovation to enhance their competitiveness. It includes the creation of a superregional infrastructure to support open innovation based on technological transfer around free software OOS, involving regional organizations to support the creation of knowledge through the SMEs.

2212-8271 © 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. Peer-review under responsibility of Assembly Technology and Factory Management/Technische Universität Berlin.

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Author name / Procedia CIRP 00 (2015) 000–000

These goals complete those previously defined in the first version of the project [1].

Fig. 2. Example of an Electromagnetic simulation in MaxFem

Fig.1. CPP2 streams

2. CAE tools

In the last version of the project it was possible to run several field tests with engineers from ten SME´s and improve some details related with the Cloud infrastructure (Fig.3), including the available software [4, 5].

As mentioned, this project initially started with a HPC approach to provide SMEs with easy and validated access to open-source numerical simulation tools such as SALOME 6.4.0 [4], CodeAster 10.6 (http://www.code-aster.org) [5] and Salome_Meca 2012.1 (www.salome-platform.org) [4]. Currently, after several improvements in order to make them accessible in a Cloud Computing HPC environment, additional OSS packages are available for SME´s such as computational fluid dynamics software OpenFoam (www.openfoam.com) [6], Elmer, a multiphysical simulation package (www.csc.fi/web/elmer) [7] and Maxfem (www.usc.es/en/proxectos/maxfem), an Electromagnetic simulation environment based on the finite element method [8], in Fig. 2. is show an electromagnetic simulation using Maxfem. The Cloud HPC infrastructure is based on three fundamental components [1] : • The user distribution, a virtual machine appliance with specific scientific packages to be executed locally inside the SMEs premises. • The front-end portal service, a web interface which includes services as access to virtual machines with installed scientific software, including many of the Graphical User Interfaces deployed on CESGA computers; remote storage based on OwnCloud [9,10] but modified to permit the transfer of very large files, and a support environment to ask for help. • The back-end infrastructure, based on the supercomputers as CESGA, using the usual bare-metal model of these as centres. Additionally to the technical environment, SMEs can request support for helping them in the Modeling and Simulation of their new virtual prototypes or in the execution in HPC facilities of their own-developed models.

Fig. 3. Cloud HPC infrastructure

3. PLM tool Implementing PLM strategy is becoming almost a good practice not only for big companies but also for SME’s, which consider product development as a core competency and which turns the business more sustainable. A PLM solution (software in our case) deeply impacts the business process and requires system analytics, and many times, the re-engineering of the involved processes [11,12,13,14]. The second aim of this project is to support the implementation of PLM tools in the production processes of industrial SMEs in the area of influence, to improve the efficiency and sustainability in the development of new products. The project phases needed for implementing a PLM solution for our target SMEs are:  Evaluation of existing solutions and selection of open and free-of-charge software.


 Internal validity among partners.  Supporting deployment and use of technology.  Running some field tests with volunteers from SMEs, by implementing an internal project, and give some feedback about the provided PLM tool. After several searches about available PLM open source solutions, the consortium decided to start deploying two packages: PLM Aras (www.aras.com), and DocDokuPLM (www.docdokuplm.com/) [15] were selected after an internal validation among project partners, by running internal cases to evaluate the usefulness for SMEs. The first solution (ARAS) is not a real OSS because some components, related with connections between CAD software’s and ARAS, are not free. Also, ARAS is deployed using Microsoft components, which restricts the deployment of Cloud solutions for the SMEs. Due to these restrictions, DocdoKuPLM has been finally selected to provide PLM on cloud. Currently, DocdoKuPLM is being customized in the infrastructure to start the field test by voluntary users from some SMEs. ARAS is better suited to be deployed inside the organizations. 4. Open Innovation Platform Open Innovation (OI) comes to show a different perspective of the innovation model that was taken as normal during almost all the 20th century. In this model the companies kept an enclosed attitude to what to Investigation and Development is concerned, not existing flow of information between companies, costumers and others [16,17]. With OI companies collaborate on a network with different external agents (researchers, companies, institutions, customers, suppliers), being able to use and sell their own technologies and innovations. They can also transfer their technology to third parties with patents or even capitalize their innovations generated externally. The best way for the company´s growth is innovation, built as a new business model. But SMEs have less external relations with innovation partners comparing to large companies. With open innovation, SMEs can take advantage of R&D of third parties and redirect internal resources for the selection and application of concepts [18,19]. In order to know the status and needs relating to innovation of SMEs in the region of Galicia, in Spain, and North of Portugal, we started with a survey. It was answered by 160 SMEs belonging to the manufacturing sector, of which 52 surveys were completely answered. Some of the conclusions were extracted regarding the relationship between SMEs and OI are shown below: In general, the companies surveyed have internal R&D processes, with a tendency to do projects in the short term, for example, innovative products and services. The solutions for their needs have emerged mainly through internal processes, but also as result of socio-economic and technological competitive surveillance, with a mix of open and closed Innovation components.

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In an attempt to ascertain possible barriers to execute internal Innovation programs, the answers point to a reliance on capabilities that companies have, in what the market has to offer, and on internal organization and support. On the other hand the cost-benefit relationship and economic uncertainty are always important factors to consider. Most companies have a R&D department, usually with a small number of collaborators and the vast majority with one leader. Regarding open innovation, most of respondents said not knowing the concept. It was visible that almost all have expressed to be available to participate in new initiatives and approaches. Asked about the possibility of launching openly internal challenges and needs, the results demonstrate some uncertainty. They have more confidence when the proposition is to do it within an expert and professional group. As a way to compensate those who submit ideas or solutions for the SME´s needs, in addition to economic bonuses, there is a strong tendency for agreements and contracts based on the exploitation of the proposition. As collaborative partners (externals), they prefer mainly clients, suppliers and technological centers (Fig.4).

Fig. 4. Question: Your company would be willing to publish requests for ideas or problem solving openly?

The CPP2 OI model and Platform was developed with all considerations collected in the survey. The special feature is that project partners will have the role of innovation brokers, giving permission for both SMEs and innovation providers. The OI platform is based on two central components: the seekers and the providers. Fig. 5 shows the schema how OI platform works. Currently, the platform is finished and is in beta version. It is expected that SMEs, experts and several institutions, will become active players in this challenge, in order to improve and create critical mass in this OI exercise.

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also important for new products and trends in manufacturing and related services [20,21]. 90% of European SMEs with less than ten employees, often face greater obstacles than bigger companies in terms of skills, costs of resources, funding or access to markets [1,19]. CloudPYME project has created a technical ecosystem which combines Cloud technologies and expertise to help SMEs to develop new business, both creating new products and services. Thanks to this Cloud platform, SMEs can use advanced engineering and management tools easily, also can collaborate with other companies or technical institutions to innovate. Acknowledgements

Fig. 5. OI platform schema: every player must be validated by project partners

The authors wish to acknowledge the support of the European Union in the Operational Programme for Crossborder Cooperation: Spain – Portugal (POCTEP) through the projects 0448_CLOUDPYME_1_E and 0682_ CLOUDPYME2_1_E. The authors gratefully appreciate the technical assistance of the companies SMEs that have participated in the field tests and for their important contribution. The project results would not have been possible without funding from the European Commission, Spanish and Portuguese governments. This paper reflects the perspectives and experience of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

5. CPP2 contribution on sustainability in SMEs

References

CPP2 can provide easy access to High Performance Computing for product innovation and PLM tools for improving the business and turning it more efficient in terms of sustainability and competitiveness. We believe that CPP2 OI platform could democratize the access to innovation and opportunities to provide it to small institutions and private experts to SME´s, sharing future profits. This can figure as social sustainability, by increasing equality of opportunity to access CAE software [1,12,13], PLM tools and Innovation seekers and providers. SMEs and their technicians and engineers (for example, in new micro manufacturing companies), can access to ultimate CAE tools, using this Cloud technology. Now, micro and small companies have the same opportunity to use advanced engineering tools as medium and big enterprises. In the vector of economic sustainability, the increasing of use CAE tools allows them to reduce the costs of production and materials [1,14], improve the quality of their products, or deploy new services. Related with the vector of environmental sustainability, the CAE tools contribute for using less material and less energy during development and production. OI platform could provide new environment friendly solutions.

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6. Conclusions In Europe, SME´s are responsible for a big percentage of private sector jobs and produce more than 50% of the total value-added created by companies. Innovative SME’s are

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