SIAM DSL: Accessible Structured Text for Bridging the Architecture-Impact Gap in Cyber-Physical Production Systems
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64552/wipiec.v12i2.148Keywords:
Production Systems Engineering, Industry 4.0, Domain-Specific Language, Model-Based EngineeringAbstract
In semi-automated Cyber-Physical Production Systems (CPPSs) that use operator assistance systems, introducing product variants often induces severe hazards due to misaligned mental models between the assistance system, human operators, and actual production states. These discrepancies create highimpact deviations between the expected and actual runtime states of a production line. To prevent these socio-technical hazards, solution architects require early-stage elicitation of tacit domain knowledge regarding critical production paths and operator conditions. However, multi-domain modeling approaches remain largely inaccessible to production domain experts. To bridge this gap, we present the System Impact Architecture Model (SIAM) Domain-Specific Language (DSL), a lightweight, structured text language that integrates a System Architecture Model with a System Impact Model. The SIAM DSL provides a simple framework for capturing and comparing multi-domain Product-Process-
Resource (PPR) variations, facilitating forward and backward reasoning to identify risky production states. We explore the language’s efficacy through an illustrative case study of operator assistance design for gearbox assembly and derive a research agenda. The study results indicate that the SIAM DSL is effective for eliciting tacit dependencies and providing input to modeling
socio-technical assistance scenarios.
References
M. Abramovici and O. Herzog, Engineering im Umfeld von Industrie 4.0. Acatech, Utz Verlag, 2016.
B. Vogel-Heuser, T. Bauernhansl, and M. Ten Hompel, Handbuch Industrie 4.0 Bd. 4, 2nd ed. Springer, 2017.
Y. Lu, H. Zheng et al., “Outlook on human-centric manufacturing towards industry 5.0,” Jour. Manuf. Sys., vol. 62, pp. 612–627, 2022.
C. Bechinie, S. Zafari, L. Kroeninger, J. Puthenkalam, and M. Tscheligi, “Toward human-centered intelligent assistance system in manufacturing: challenges and potentials for operator 5.0,” Procedia Computer Science, vol. 232, pp. 1584–1596, 2024, int. Conf. Industry 4.0 and Smart Manuf.
G. Garcia-Garcia, Y. Singh, and S. Jagtap, “Optimising changeover through lean-manufacturing principles: A case study in a food factory,” Sustainability, vol. 14, no. 14, 2022.
N. G. Leveson, Engineering a safer world: Systems thinking applied to safety. The MIT Press, 2016.
M. Schleipen and R. Drath, “Three-view-concept for modeling process or manufacturing plants with AutomationML,” in IEEE ETFA, 2009.
S. Biffl, H. Rahmani, K. Meixner, D. Hoffmann, and A. L¨uder, “Valuebased Change Impact Analysis in Production with System Impact Architecture Modeling,” in Proc. IEEE Int. Conf. ETFA (in press), 2026.
C. Di Ciccio, A. Marrella, and A. Russo, “Knowledge-intensive processes: Characteristics, requirements and analysis of contemporary approaches,” Jour. Data Semantics, vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 29–57, Apr. 2014.
S. Biffl, A. L¨uder, and D. Gerhard, Multi-Disciplinary Engineering for Cyber-Physical Production Systems: Data Models and Software Solutions for Handling Complex Engineering Projects. Springer, 2017.
A. L¨uder, D. Hoffmann, P. H¨unecke et al., “Entwicklung einer informationslogistik zur automatisierung des auomatisierungsengineering,” in Entwurf Komplexer Automatisierungssysteme (EKA), vol. 1, 2026.
A. Shirbazo, B. Li, S. Ata, H. L. Ramandi, and S. Saydam, “A guideline for the standardisation of smart manufacturing and the role of rami 4.0 in digitising the industrial sector,” IEEE Internet of Things Journal, 2025.
D. Moody, “The “physics” of notations: toward a scientific basis for constructing visual notations in software engineering,” IEEE Transactions on software engineering, vol. 35, no. 6, pp. 756–779, 2009.
M. S. Farooq, U. Omer, A. Ramzan, M. A. Rasheed, and Z. Atal, “Behavior driven development: A systematic literature review,” IEEE Access, vol. 11, pp. 88 008–88 024, 2023.
C. Stockinger, L. Polanski-Schr¨ader, and I. Subtil, “The effect of information level of digital worker guidance systems on assembly performance,” Applied Ergonomics, vol. 106, p. 103896, 2023.
R. J. Wieringa, Design science methodology for information systems and software engineering. Springer, 2014.
M. K¨onig and H. Winkler, “Investigation of assistance systems in assembly in the context of digitalization: A systematic literature review,” Journal of Manufacturing Systems, vol. 78, pp. 187–199, 2025.
H. Oestreich, M. Heinz-Jakobs, P. Sehr, and S. Wrede, Human-Centered Adaptive Assistance Systems for the Shop Floor. Cham: Springer International Publishing, 2023, pp. 83–125.
M. K¨onig and H. Winkler, “Empirische ergebnisse zum einsatz von assistenzsystemen in der montage,” Zeitschrift f¨ur wirtschaftlichen Fabrikbetrieb, vol. 119, no. 7-8, pp. 563–568, 2024.
B. Pokorni, D. Popescu, and C. Constantinescu, “Design of cognitive assistance systems in manual assembly based on quality function deployment,” Applied Sciences, vol. 12, no. 8, 2022.
M. Walczok and T. Bipp, “Investigating the effect of intelligent assistance systems on motivational work characteristics in assembly,” Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing, vol. 35, pp. 1949–1962, 2022.
DIN60812, DIN EN 60812:2015-08: Failure Mode and Effects analysis (FMEA), International Standard, DIN EN Std. 60 812:2015–08, 2015.
VDI Guideline 3682 Formalised Process Descriptions, Beuth Std., 2015.
E. A. Akinluyi, K. Ison, and P. J. Clarkson, “Mapping outcomes in quality improvement and system design activities: the outcome identification loop and system impact model,” BMJ Open Quality, vol. 8, no. 3, 2019.
A. Van Deursen et al., “Domain-specific languages: An annotated bibliography,” ACM Sigplan Notices, vol. 35, no. 6, pp. 26–36, 2000.
S. Greiner, B. Wiesmayr, K. Feichtinger, K. Meixner et al., “Maturity evaluation of domain-specific language ecosystems for cyber-physical production systems,” in Int. Conf. on Emerging Technologies and Factory Automation (ETFA). IEEE, 2023, pp. 1–8.
M. Schieseck, P. Topalis, and A. Fay, “A graphical modeling language for artificial intelligence applications in automation systems,” in Int. Conf. on Ind. Inf. (INDIN). IEEE, 2023, pp. 1–7.
L. Beers, H. Nabizada, M. Weigand, F. Gehlhoff, and A. Fay, “A sysml profile for the standardized description of processes during system
development,” in Int. Sys. Conf. (SysCon). IEEE, 2024, pp. 1–8.
K. Meixner, K. Feichtinger, H. S. Fadhlillah, S. Greiner, H. Marcher, R. Rabiser, and S. Biffl, “Variability modeling of products, processes, and resources in cyber–physical production systems engineering,” Journal of Systems and Software, vol. 211, p. 112007, May 2024.
P. Runeson, M. Host, A. Rainer, and B. Regnell, Case study research in software engineering: Guidelines. John Wiley & Sons, 2012.
S. Biffl, M. Martinelli, H. Rahmani, and M. Picone, “Business intelligence architecture for process quality monitoring with bdd,” in Proc. Software Quality Days (SWQD 2026). Springer LNCS, 2026, pp. 1–22.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Stefan Biffl, Tobias Bein, Sebastian Kropatschek, Kristof Meixner, Arndt Lüder
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
License Terms:
Except where otherwise noted, content on this website is lincesed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (CC BY NC)
Use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes, is permitted.
Copyright to any article published by WiPiEC retained by the author(s). Authors grant WiPiEC Journal a license to publish the article and identify itself as the original publisher. Authors also grant any third party the right to use the article freely as long as it is not used for commercial purposes and its original authors, citation details, and publisher are identified, in accordance with CC BY NC license. Fore more information on license terms, click here.