On the explicit modelling of systems of human resources

Structured design methods and modelling formalisms are being developed to e nable the engineering of systems of human resources typically deployed with in a manufacturing enterprise. Such a set of methods and formalisms is desc ribed. The purpose and composition of a meta-model of human resources and t heir organization in manufacturing systems is explained, as is the represen tation and implementation of this model using Unified Modelling Language co nstructs and the ProcessWise modelling workbench respectively. Also reporte d is progress made in respect of an industrial case study, where the method s and formalisms are facilitating manufacturing process redesign and the me thodological assignment of groups of people to shop-floor operations, based on explicit models of knowledge and workload requirements.