aalto1 untyped-item.component.html
Workflow and capacity management system for the validation laboratory
Loading...
URL
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
School of Science |
Master's thesis
Electronic archive copy is available via Aalto Thesis Database.
Authors
Date
Department
Major/Subject
Mcode
Language
en
Pages
69
Series
Abstract
This thesis investigates how workflow and capacity management systems can support the daily operations of MFILAB, the validation laboratory of Murata Finland. StressED, the laboratory’s existing system for managing a specific set of test flows, offers limited visibility into ongoing validation activities, resource usage, and overall laboratory capacity. To address these issues, the study explores how StressED could be extended into a more comprehensive workflow management solution that enhances activity visibility and reduces manual coordination effort, ultimately improving operational efficiency. The study integrates principles from workflow management systems and requirements engineering literature to produce a high-level system design, which is evaluated through the implementation of a proof-of-concept prototype and the application of the Software Architecture Analysis Method (SAAM). User evaluations and scenario-based architectural assessments indicate that the proposed solution fits the current use case to improve test visibility and support more informed decision-making. Nonetheless, limitations related to the lack of full-scale deployment of the prototype in the laboratory, reliance on simplified data during prototype testing, and the constraints of legacy systems highlight the need for further refinement. Consequently, the study provides recommendations for modernizing StressED components, developing the system into a minimum viable product, exploring scheduling algorithms as operational data accumulates, and integrating laboratory equipment and analytical tools to enable future automation. The study demonstrates that the proposed workflow and capacity management design is both feasible and adds value to the lab, establishing a basis for continued development at MFI.