Applying Computational Intelligence : How to Create Value

In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. But, in practice, there is. Jan L. A. van de Snepscheut The ?ow of academic ideas in the area of computational intelligence has penetrated industry with tremendous speed and persistence. Thousands of applications have proved the practical potential of fuzzy logic, neural networks, evolutionary com- tation, swarm intelligence, and intelligent agents even before their theoretical foundation is completely understood. And the popularity is rising. Some software vendors have pronounced the new machine learning gold rush to “Transfer Data into Gold”. New buzzwords like “data mining”, “genetic algorithms”, and “swarm optimization” have enriched the top executives’ vocabulary to make them look more “visionary” for the 21st century. The phrase “fuzzy math” became political jargon after being used by US President George W. Bush in one of the election debates in the campaign in 2000. Even process operators are discussing the perf- mance of neural networks with the same passion as the performance of the Dallas Cowboys. However, for most of the engineers and scientists introducing computational intelligence technologies into practice, looking at the growing number of new approaches, and understanding their theoretical principles and potential for value creation becomes a more and more dif?cult task.

The flow of academic ideas in the area of computational intelligence is impacting industrial practice at considerable speed. Practitioners face the challenge of tracking, understanding and applying the latest techniques, which often prove their value even before the underlying theories are fully understood. This book offers realistic guidelines on creating value from the application of computational intelligence methods.

In Part I, the author offers simple explanations of the key computational intelligence technologies: fuzzy logic, neural networks, support vector machines, evolutionary computation, swarm intelligence, and intelligent agents. In Part II, he defines the typical business environment and analyzes the competitive advantages these techniques offer. In Part III, he introduces a methodology for effective real-world application of computational intelligence while minimizing development cost, and he outlines the critical, underestimated technology marketing efforts required. The methodology can improve the existing capabilities of Six Sigma, one of the most popular work processes in industry. Finally, in Part IV the author looks to technologies still in the research domain, such as perception-based computing, artificial immune systems, and systems with evolved structure, and he examines the future for computational intelligence applications while taking into account projected industrial needs.

The author adopts a light tone in the book, visualizes many of the techniques and ideas, and supports the text with notes from successful implementations. The book is ideal for engineers implementing these techniques in the real world, managers charged with creating value and reducing costs in the related industries, and scientists in computational intelligence looking towards the application of their research.

ARIS is ranked as the leading Business Process Modelling tool in the Gartner Quadrant for Business Process Analysis and Optimization. The ARIS Design Platform is being used as a business process management (BPM) tool for projects in BPM, quality management, business analysis and design, software development, implementation of service-oriented architectures and so forth.

Following on from Rob Davis’ successful introductory text, ARIS Design Platform: Getting Started with BPM, this new book covers in detail some of the more advanced concepts of using ARIS Business Architect in the new ARIS 7 Design Platform. Written in a reader-friendly style, it contains detailed explanations of key concepts combined with numerous examples, hints and tips gained from many years of practical experience of using ARIS. Topics covered include:

• The Matrix Editor

• Find and Query

• Model Generation

• Method Filters and Method Changes

• Templates and Fonts

• Reports, Semantic Checks and Macros

• Database Administration

• The Symbol Editor

• User Management

This easy-to-follow advanced text is a must-have guide and reference for all users who want to increase their ARIS skills, and for those who need to undertake advanced model and database management.

More information can be found at www.rob-davis.co.uk.

Rob Davis works for British Telecommunications Plc. He has practical knowledge of working with ARIS in industry for over ten years and has already authored two very successful texts on ARIS - Business Process Modelling with ARIS: A Practical Guide and ARIS Design Platform: Getting Started with BPM.

Front Matter....Pages i-xxii Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Artificial vs. Computational Intelligence....Pages 3-30 A Roadmap Through the Computational Intelligence Maze....Pages 31-50 Let's Get Fuzzy....Pages 51-72 Machine Learning: The Ghost in the Learning Machine....Pages 73-113 Evolutionary Computation: The Profitable Gene....Pages 115-144 Swarm Intelligence: The Benefits of Swarms....Pages 145-174 Intelligent Agents: The Computer Intelligence Agency (CIA)....Pages 175-200 Front Matter....Pages 202-202 Why We Need Intelligent Solutions....Pages 203-231 Competitive Advantages of Computational Intelligence....Pages 233-256 Issues in Applying Computational Intelligence....Pages 257-276 Front Matter....Pages 278-278 Integrate and Conquer....Pages 279-309 How to Apply Computational Intelligence....Pages 311-341 Computational Intelligence Marketing....Pages 343-373 Industrial Applications of Computational Intelligence....Pages 375-404 Front Matter....Pages 406-406 Future Directions of Applied Computational Intelligence....Pages 407-434 Back Matter....Pages 435-459 Following on from Rob Davis'successful introductory book, ARIS Design Platform: Getting Started with BPM, Rob now covers in detail some of the more advanced concepts of using ARIS Business Architect. This is a practical ‘how-to'guide and contains tips, techniques and short cuts gained from practical experience and explains clearly how to use ARIS and why ARIS is a powerful tool for process modeling. Advanced concepts such as the following are presented in this reader-friendly and concise guide: - Matrix editor, - Find and query, - Model generation, - Method filters and method changes, - Templates and fonts, - Reports and semantic checks, - Macros, - Transformations, - Database administration, - User management. This easy-to-follow advanced text is a must have guide and reference for all users who want to increase their ARIS skills, and for those who need to undertake advanced model and database management. Following on from Rob Davis successful introductory book, ARIS Design Getting Started with BPM, Rob now covers in detail some of the more advanced concepts of using ARIS Business Architect. This is a practical how-to guide and contains tips, techniques and short cuts gained from practical experience and explains clearly how to use ARIS and why ARIS is a powerful tool for process modeling. Advanced concepts such as the following are presented in this reader-friendly and concise - Matrix editor, - Find and query, - Model generation, - Method filters and method changes, - Templates and fonts, - Reports and semantic checks, - Macros, - Transformations, - Database administration, - User management. This easy-to-follow advanced text is a must have guide and reference for all users who want to increase their ARIS skills, and for those who need to undertake advanced model and database management.