Navigating Industrial Challenges: The Role of Decision Support Systems (DSS)

The design framework of a DSS depends on the nature of the problem and the developer. Τhe DSS typically comprise of three basic elements:

Data repository: This is a database containing all the knowledge available for the system of analysis. Τhe information stored usually includes numerical data, calculations and useful features that affect the procedure of decision-making. The conceptual framework and design of the data repository depends on the nature of the problem and its data (e.g. numerical, natural language etc.)

Software: This part can be designed taking advantage of commercial solvers and tools as well as custom-made computational and coding modules interconnected through communication interfaces. The concept is based on a model that includes calculates, predicts and incorporates all the real-world parameters (e.g. cost elements, design parameters of a pilot line, properties of chemicals, mass flows, environmental restrictions) in the form of a mathematical model representing how the system works. The goal is to estimate the improvement of the system. This is achieved by the optimisation of the system variables (e.g., temperature, PH, cost, concentrations, production capacities, energy use) affected by imposed restrictions (e.g., production yields, time, product demand etc.). The DSS models return various predictions and propositions that could enhance system performance at various levels (operational, economic, environmental, safety).

User Interface (UI): The UI is designed to host in a friendly environment all the information related to the goal of the studies, enabling a framework of navigation for the end users. A user-friendly UI empowers the effectiveness of a DSS since the proposed functionalities are easily approached by the users (e.g. models run at the back-end) without requiring specific skills (e.g., data analysis, coding etc.)