# A Novel Methodology for Assessing and Modeling Manufacturing Processes
## 3 A Novel Methodological Model for Manufacturing Processes
### Design of a Novel Methodological Model for Assessing and Modeling Manufacturing Processes
#### 3.3.1 Identification of Areas and Flows That Have an Influence on the Manufacturing Process  
A manufacturing process depends on several flows and the inevitability of these flows to operate [14]. The flows can be of different nature, and not all flows that are to be described interact with all manufacturing processes. The potential flows related to a manufacturing process have evolved over the industrial revolutions. Each flow has a set of operational performance indicators that determine the effectiveness and efficiency of the flow. Furthermore, if the flow does not work or its functionality has a certain limitation level on its performance, it will influence the manufacturing process indicators and, therefore, its stability and capability to produce at the required quality level. Therefore, the flows involved in the manufacturing process, as well as the relevant factors within the flows, are a relevant topic to be analyzed. According the literature, the following flows are considered in the research carried out:  
* Money flow: The monetary flow is to be considered in any production process, as it converts inputs that have a certain monetary value into outputs with another monetary value; moreover, within the process, there are also elements used with their related costs. As a result, even in nonprofit organizations, the financial flow is considered, as it is a relevant element for operations regarding sustainability and to show the contribution of the industrial activity to society.
* Information flow: Communication is key for knowing what specific industrial process to perform and when, how, and why it should be performed. Therefore, the information flow moves with the product along its production process. Currently, information and communication technologies are becoming increasingly important with the rise of remote services [33]. A prerequisite for remote services is corresponding information and communication technology, which, today, typically includes the Internet. According to a survey by the Federal Statistical Office, 89% of all German manufacturing companies were already connected to the Internet with a broadband connection in 2012, and, in companies with more than 50 employees, this figure was even higher than 99% [33].
* Material flow: This includes the physical movement of raw materials, semifinished products, and finished products.
* Capital equipment flow: This refers to the material resources needed to perform operations, such as tools and shelves to place materials.
* Energy flow: Since the introduction of electricity in industrial processes, energy supply has become a key aspect for the stability of the production process.
* Human resource flow: Although automation has developed in recent decades, manual activities and assembly processes are still widespread. Moreover, human resources are key, as human activity is required in monitoring and decision-making functions even in assisted and automated processes. This especially applies to the resource management in engineering, where it is important to achieve high productivity and efficiency to handle the bottleneck of engineers [14].
* Order flow: The orders are the effects of decisions that have not been executed in flows of other flows, such as material, money, personnel, capital equipment [15], and energy flows.
* Maintenance management and control: The area related to the preservation of the functionality of all the flows and areas involved in the manufacturing process. This controls the flow of spare parts for manufacturing assets.
* Manufacturing process: The area related to the activities performed in the production process with the technical parameters for processing an input into an output.
* Quality management and control: The area related to quality with a focus on the end customer.