Case-Based Reasoning and Knowledge Graphs to Support the Pattern-Based Engineering of Resilient and Sustainable Production Networks

Production processes underpin the creation of products that facilitate modern life and enable technological and societal advancement, but they also significantly affect the environmental impact of products. They often take place within production networks that form integrated supply chains, interconnecting companies and linking all product life cycle stages. Growing awareness of environmental limits, new regulations aimed at fostering sustainability, and rising stakeholder expectations highlight the need for a sustainable transformation, while disruptions like the Suez Canal blockage underscore the importance of resilience. Surveys indicate that companies still need guidance and tools to manage this dual transformation. Recent research suggests that pattern-based approaches can support the redesign of both individual companies and the production networks to enhance sustainability and resilience. But existing approaches lack systematic methods for pattern selection. A decision support tool is proposed that combines knowledge graphs (KG) and case-based reasoning (CBR) for pattern selection in production networks. Based on a review of literature and sustainability reports 95 resilience and 49 sustainability patterns are identified. These patterns are mapped in a KG and implemented in a CBR approach. The validation uses a demonstration for the semiconductor industry.