Hi Jacques, all,
First of all: you are right. If there weren't a need for solution you wouldn't go that way. But as it happens, within the consortium of the project there are partners who have implemented ESB's (and for the sake of the argument let's pretend that in the European market space every variant ESB is implemented) and allow only to be connected through their ESB. And also the IMAGINE platform is expected to have an ESB as part of the architecture, but that hasn't been formalized yet. So that may change. So what needs to be done so that OFBiz can connect to an ESB and that info and data is delivered through that ESB to either the portal in the IMAGINE platform or the partner with his system at the other end of the ESB? Secondly: OFBiz is also a solution for manufacturing. We have the code in place. But how good is it? Are there endusers who use that component and how? I have seen and read the book you referred to, and have worked to the code to understand its principles. But like I said I don't have the experience in implementing a manufacturing solution, so I don't know what it all entails. That's why I invite everybody to share their insights. Regarding, Pierre Op 10 april 2012 23:39 schreef Jacques Le Roux <jacques.le.r...@les7arts.com > het volgende: > Just a word: it does not make sense to use an ESB like ServiceMix as long > as it's not mandatory. In other words you may consider 1st using OFBiz as > much as possible, and use only an ESB if you need to integrate with other > systems. Even then sometimes using SOAP or XML-RPC would be easier > depending of the openness of third systems. RMI is faster but beware of > troubleshooting it on a net with a lot of firewalls... > > The beauty of OFBiz is that it comes already integrated. We know the ERP > way (all integrated) has some drawbacks, but don't forget about drawbacks > of other ways... OFBiz is not perfect but it works OOTB and can be "easily" > enhanced... Some ESB projects have already proved to fail in the mid/long > term... > > You might be interested by > https://cwiki.apache.org/**confluence/display/OFBIZ/** > Manufacturing+Process+Stories+**and+Diagrams<https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/OFBIZ/Manufacturing+Process+Stories+and+Diagrams> > https://cwiki.apache.org/**confluence/display/OFBADMIN/** > OFBiz+Related+Books#**OFBizRelatedBooks-<https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/OFBADMIN/OFBiz+Related+Books#OFBizRelatedBooks-> > "**GettingStartedwithApacheOFBizM**anufacturing&MRPin5EasySteps"(** > Release09.04andabove) > https://cwiki.apache.org/**confluence/display/OFBREQDES/** > UBPL+Introduction<https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/OFBREQDES/UBPL+Introduction> > https://cwiki.apache.org/**confluence/display/OFBREQDES/** > Universal+Business+Process+**Library+Index<https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/OFBREQDES/Universal+Business+Process+Library+Index> > > But this topic is more for the user list... > > Jacques > > From: "Integrin" <info.integ...@gmail.com> > > Pierre - >> >> While I do not claim to be an expert in Manufacturing, I'm helping >> customize Ofbiz for a Food Sevices Industry in a Franchise Model where >> Ofbiz Manufacturing be the food kitchen; Additionally the following >> modules, being used >> - MyPortal : Dashboard >> - Order Manager: Purchase , Sales Orders, Transfer Orders >> - Party Manager : Suppliers, Users & Customers >> - SFA : Sales Forecast >> - Facility : Inventory & Shipping >> -Manufacturing: MRP in Manufacturing, very handy for automating >> Requirements management >> >> As far as ESB integration goes, Ofbiz being based on Service based >> Architecture, should come very handy; I'm guessing you will have some >> work to do to be able to make individual modules, loosely coupled >> using ESB >> >> Goodluck with your efforts! >> >> - Regards >> Sakthi >> >> On 4/10/12, Pierre Smits <pierre.sm...@gmail.com> wrote: >> >>> Dear all, >>> >>> Currently I am participating in the collaboration project "IMAGINE - >>> Innovative End-to-End Management of Dynamic Manufacturing Networks", that >>> resides under the theme "Virtual Factories and Enterprises" as part of >>> the >>> FP7 Programme of the EU. >>> >>> The goal of this project is to enable SME Manufacturing Enterprises in >>> the >>> EU market space to shorten the time-to-market of their product by >>> assisting >>> manufacturing customers in forming partnerships with suppliers and a >>> better >>> exchange of information and data throughout the lifecycle of the >>> partnership. >>> >>> During methodology studies it is envisioned that exchange of information >>> and data entails 4 interlocking areas, namely: >>> >>> 1. Partner blueprints - All static information (and data) re >>> organization and human entities, including connection mechanisms >>> (addresses >>> and such) of the participating organization >>> 2. Manufacture blueprints - All static information (and data) re >>> products (e.g. pricing, QoS re delivery, mBOM's, eBOM's and such) >>> 3. End-2-End blueprints - All dynamic information (and data) re inputs >>> and output of the process segments, in customer to supplier end-2-end >>> processes while manufacturing the goods (but also including process >>> definitions in BPEL, BPMN and xPDL) >>> 4. QA blueprints - All information (and data) relating to maintaining >>> the QoS requirements of the organization and establishing/enhancing >>> trust >>> between (potential) partners (encompassing org. certification, e.g. ISO >>> 9000, but also product certification, and more) >>> >>> All to be facilitated through established Open Standards and Technolgies. >>> >>> In the methodology studies it was also envisioned that, while initial >>> profiling should start by registering company and lead contact persons >>> and >>> their mechanisms in a portal solution (currently intended OS product: >>> Liferay, part of the envisioned IMAGINE platform), as soon as the >>> connection mechanisms regarding service adapters are setup and verified >>> systems like CRM, Manufacturing, ProjectMgt and Warehousing connect >>> through >>> the IMAGINE platform (mainly OS ESB like Servicemix - while providing >>> dashboard functionalities in the portal for participants that are not >>> (yet) >>> at the highest level of maturity regarding partnering - e.g. uploading >>> data >>> through spreadsheets and info via PDF and such). >>> >>> As this project still has a lifespan of approx 2 years left and system >>> integration has no started yet, it is my belief that OFBiz could be in >>> the >>> front runner position and create a name in the EU market space regarding >>> Open Source ERP in general and Manufacturing in particular combined with >>> info and data exchange through ESBs. Which is a huge opportunity for us. >>> >>> Thinking of the possibilites I foresee following use-cases (amongst >>> others) >>> to be applicable: >>> >>> - When the initial registration of the company has been realized and >>> the >>> connection mechanism regarding the ESB connectivity has been setup and >>> verified the information relating the Partner blueprint is provided by >>> means of the data available/maintained in the Party component >>> - When potential suppliers are identified through the search >>> capabilities in the portal the data contained there (Party data et all) >>> is >>> pulled/delivered into the SCM (through the ESB) >>> - When potential customers are identified through the seach >>> capabilities >>> in the portal the data contained thee is pulled/delivered into the CRM >>> (through the ESB) >>> - When potential suppliers are initially contacted and a connection is >>> being negotiated more data is pullled from and/or delivered to Product >>> Catalog and Manufacturing (through the ESB) >>> - When an agreement is concluded this is also pulled/delivered in the >>> system of the participant(s) >>> - When proces segments are started, executed and concluded information >>> (date) thereabout are pulled/delivered into the ERP system of the >>> customer >>> (also through the ESB) and send to the portal for dashboarding >>> purpopes. >>> >>> Unfortunately I am not that well experienced in Manufacturing, >>> establishing >>> ESB integration for OFBiz and delivering data from one system (like >>> OFBiz) >>> through a third party ESB to another system (like OFBiz) and thus I am >>> wondering about possible difficulties regarding this. >>> >>> What do you think possible technical issues are given current state of >>> OFBiz? >>> >>> I appreciate and value your thoughts/input on this. >>> >>> Regards, >>> >>> Pierre >>> >>> >> -- >> Sent from my mobile device >> >
