Industrial Ontology Foundry (IOF) Core Ontology
type: Ontology
label: Core Ontology
abstract: The IOF Core Ontology contains terms and concepts found to be common across multiple domains of industry and represents an OWL implementation of them. The ontology itself utilizes the Basic Formal Ontology or BFO as a philosophical foundation but also imports terms from various domain-independent or "mid-level" ontologies. The purpose of the ontology is to serve or is intended to serve as a core for IOF's domain-specific ontologies, with a goal being to ensure consistency and interoperability across the suite of ontologies the IOF publishes.
contributor: Elisa Kendall, Thematix Partners LLC
contributor: Will Sobel, W. V. Sobel LLC
creator: Chris Will, National Center for Ontological Research (NCOR)
creator: IOF Core Working Group
license: http://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
publisher: Industrial Ontology Foundry
references: terms
references: core#
imports: bfo.owl
imports: AnnotationVocabulary
version IRI: Core
version info: Version 1 Beta - 2022-05-06
copyright: Copyright (c) 2022 Open Applications Group

BFO_0000029
comment: Even though site (physical location) always refers to a 3D space it is fine to define it practically just through 2D or 1D or 0D spatial region. For example when we want to talk about 2x2m area within a factory floor even though the space specified is 2D it is still ok to assert it as site as there is always the third dimension above the area that is implicit.
example: location of a container, floor area in a factory building, location of a machine (relative to the coordinate of a factory floor), location on a shelf in a warehouse
synonym: physical location

BFO_0000054
synonym: realized in

BFO_0000063
natural language definition: comes before (something) in time

action specification
type: Class
subclass of: information content entity
comment: 1.Some of the items that may be contained within the action specification include: - specifying the role (which may reflect the actions that a participant should do) that can inhere in a participant of the process - specifying the types of participants in a process 2. Typically is part of a plan specification
example: Pour the contents of flask 1 into flask 2
adapted from: http://www.obofoundry.org/ontology/iao.html
first order logic definition: InformationContentEntity(x) ∧ ∃p (Process(p) ∧ (prescribes(x,p)) → ActionSpecification(x)
natural language definition: information content entity that prescribes what participants shall do in a process
semi formal natural language definition: x is an Information Content Entity that prescribes some Process p implies x is an Action Specification
subject matter expert explanation: An action specification provide details about what an agent (person, group of persons or engineered system) should do to successfully realize a particular kind of process.

agent
type: Class
subclass of: BFO_0000040
comment: The IOF has elected to exclude material substances that may, at times, act like or are often referred to as agents, in that they realize some specific function that some person desires (e.g., platinum is a reducing agent in various reduction-type reactions -- as used in a catalytic converter to eliminate or reduce various pollutants in exhausts). The IOF has at this time excluded other types of non-human agents, such as animals and other organisms (often referred to as biological agents).
comment: When an organization is an agent, this is because one or more of the persons who are members of the organization (usually referred to an agency), realize its goals, objectives and plans.
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: Class
    union of: engineered system
    union of: group of agents
    union of: person
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: has role
    some values from: agent role
example: an employee; a transportation & logistics provider; a robot; a scheduling system
counter example: 1. Of physical and chemical in nature: Cleaning, vulcanizing, fluxing, indicator, sterilizing, emulisifying, refining. 2. Organisms: animals, cells, parts of organisms (organs, organelles, viruses).
first order logic definition: Agent(x) ↔ (Person(x) ∨ GroupOfAgents(x) ∨ EngineeredSystem(x)) ∧ ∃y (AgentRole(y) ∧ hasRole(x,y))
natural language definition: person, group of persons, or engineered system with an agent role
semi formal natural language definition: Agent is a Person, Group Of Agents, or Engineered System when it 'has role' some Agent Role.
subject matter expert explanation: From the dictionary: 1. A person who acts on behalf of another person or group. 2. A person or thing that takes an active role or produces a specified effect.

agent role
type: Class
subclass of: BFO_0000023
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: role of
  some values from: Class
    intersection of: Class
      intersection of: BFO_0000040
      intersection of: Class
        complement of: BFO_0000024
    intersection of: Restriction
      on property: acts on behalf of at some time
      some values from: Class
        union of: engineered system
        union of: group of agents
        union of: person
comment: The IOF has elected to exclude material substances that may, at times, act like or are often referred to as agents, in that they realize some specific function that some person desires (e.g., platinum is a reducing agent in various reduction-type reactions -- as used in a catalytic converter to eliminate or reduce various pollutants in exhausts). The IOF has at this time excluded other types of non-human agents, such as animals and other organisms (often referred to as biological agents).
example: an employee; a transportation & logistics provider; material handler; scheduler
counter example: Other types of agents we are not including at this stage are: 1. Those that are physical and chemical in nature: Cleaning, vulcanizing, fluxing, indicator, sterilizing, emulisifying, refining. 2. Organisms: animals, cells, parts of organisms (organs, organelles, viruses). 3. In computing: intelligent, artificial, mobile, & autonomous
first order logic definition: AgentRole(x) → Role(x) ∧ ∃m ∃n ((MaterialEntity(m) ∧ ¬FiatObjectPart(x)) ∧ (Person(n) ∨ GroupOfAgents(n) ∨ EngineeredSystem(n)) ∧ actsOnBehalfOfAtSomeTime(m, n) ∧ roleOf(x,m))
natural language definition: role that someone or something has when they act on behalf of a person, engineered system or a group of agents
semi formal natural language definition: Agent Role x implies x is a 'role' that is the 'role of' a 'material entity' (that is not a Fiat Object Part) m when it 'acts on behalf of at some time' some Person or Group of Agents or Engineered System y

algorithm
type: Class
subclass of: plan specification
comment: Algorithms considered under BFO are strictly mathematical or computer science algorithms. As such, any possible inputs or outputs of an algorithm must be of type IOF:Information Content Entity
example: source, pseudo, or executable code for sorting data, flowchart for automatic control of a process
adapted from: Information Artifact Ontology: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/IAO_0000064 and also the Common Core Ontology, http://www.ontologyrepository.com/CommonCoreOntologies/Mid/InformationEntityOntology
first order logic definition: PlanSpecification(x) ∧ ∃y(ComputingProces(y) ∧ prescribes(x,y)) → Algorithm(x)
natural language definition: plan specification that prescribes a computing process
semi formal natural language definition: x is a Plan Specification that 'prescribes' some Computing Process y implies x is an Algorithm
subject matter expert explanation: 1. Plan specification that has an action specification as part that prescribes procedural or declarative (declarative in the sense of declarative programming) steps, which can be 1) translated to computer interpretable instructions and 2) concretized in a computing process 2.an informational entity that specifies the inputs and outputs of some mathematical function as well as workflow of execution for achieving a predefined objective [CCO; IAO]

assembly
type: Class
subclass of: material artifact
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has component part at all times
  some values from: material component
comment: An assembly can be a manufactured product or a component of a higher-level assembly, or both.
comment: a component can also be a portion of material so if something has a component part it is not necessairly an assembly
example: powertrain assembly; partially-assembled powertrain + transmission assembly lying nearby; driveshaft assembly temporarily disassembled for repair or routine maintenance; separator assembly consisting of variously-shaped separator parts that safeguard wine bottles in a case of wine during transport; a material artifact produced entirely through additive manufacturing (provided it is a component somewhere, and can it can be disassembled without damage/destruction).
counter example: a portion of material, signle piece of glass, a bar, an aluminum roll, an engine block
first order logic definition: Assembly(x) → MaterialArtifact(x) ∧ ∃c (MaterialComponent(c) ∧ hasComponentPartAtAllTimes(x,c))
first order logic definition: MaterialArtifact(x) ∧ ∃p( AssemblyProcess(p) ∧ isSpecifiedOutputOf(x,p)) → Assembly(x)
natural language definition: material artifact that is composed of a number of material components that are physically connected together to realize a function and that can be disassembled later on
semi formal natural language definition: Assembly x implies x is a Material Artifact and there is some Material Component c and x 'has component part at all times' c
semi formal natural language definition: Material Artifact x that 'is specified output of' some Assembly Process p implies x is an Assembly
subject matter expert explanation: 1. Material artifact composed of parts that are put together to realize a particular function as prescribed by some design, and in a manner whereby it can be later disassembled. 2. A group of subassemblies and/or parts that are put together and that constitute a major subdivision for the final product. An assembly may be an end item or a component of a higher level assembly [APICS]. 3. A combination of parts, components [or] units that form a functional entity [ISO 10795]. 4. A set of one or more sub-assemblies or components constituting a single end-use product [ISO/TS 21619]. 5. A component or end item comprising of a number of parts or subassemblies put together to perform a specific function, and capable of disassembly without destruction [businessdictionary.com].

assembly process
type: Class
subclass of: manufacturing process
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has input
  some values from: material component
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has specified output
  some values from: Class
    intersection of: assembly
    intersection of: Restriction
      on property: has component part at all times
      some values from: Class
        intersection of: material component
        intersection of: Restriction
comment: because the process like 3D printing can also produce an assembly, has specified output some assembly is not necesssary and sufficient condition for an assembly process
example: Driving a lug nut to hold the wheel of a car in place; welding two metal parts into a single object; automated drilling and riveting of a skin panel operation during fuselage assembly;
counter example: 3D printing on an existing part (existing part + a pool of printing material -> new part) -- Note that the pool of material is an object before the process but becomes liquid (there is physical state change) during the "assembly" process.
first order logic definition: AssemblyProcess(x) → ManufacturingProcess(x) ∧ ∃a, ∃c (Assembly(a) ∧ MaterialComponent(c) ∧ isInputOf(c,x) ∧ hasComponentPartAtAllTimes(a,c) ∧ hasSpecifiedOutput(x,a))
natural language definition: manufacturing process in which a number of material components are physically connected to each other to form an assembly
semi formal natural language definition: Assembly Process x implies x is a Manufacturing Process that 'has specified output' some Assembly a which 'has component part at all times' some Material Component c that 'is input of' x

business identification
type: Class
subclass of: information content entity
comment: Business identifications are typically managed by an official organization
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: information content entity
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: designates
    some values from: business organization
example: DUNS Number, CAGE Code, EIN, FIIN, BICID, DODAACID, SCACID
first order logic definition: BusinessIdentification(x) ↔ InformationContentEntity(x) ∧ ∃b(BusinessOrganization(b) ∧ designates(x,b))
natural language definition: information content entity that identifies a business
semi formal natural language definition: Business Identification is an Information Content Entity that 'designates' some Business Organization
subject matter expert explanation: Identifier for a business entity typically provided by a government or a well know business entity such as Dun and Bradstreet. It has significance in conducting trades between business entities.

business organization
type: Class
subclass of: organized group of agents
comment: 1. As defined here, business entity includes both for-profit and non-profit organizations as well as groups of nation states or parts thereof assembling under some identity. 2. Business entities are formally organized according to the laws prevailing in the locales and countries in which it operates or conducts business, and includes company, corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship.
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: organized group of agents
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: BFO_0000056
    some values from: business process
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: designated by
    some values from: business identification
example: Mercedes-Benz, Deloitte; OPC Foundation; OPEC (whose mission is to coordinate and unify the petroleum policies of its member countries and ensure the stabilization of oil markets in order to...)
first order logic definition: BusinessOrganization(x) ↔ OrganizedGroupOfAgents(x) ∧ ∃p,∃b(BusinessProcess(p) ∧ BusinessIdentification(b) ∧ participatesInAtSomeTime(x,p) ∧ designatedBy(x,b))
natural language definition: organized group of agents that have a business identification assigned with the purpose to get involved in business processes
semi formal natural language definition: Business Organization is an Organized Group Of Agents that 'participates in at some time' some Business Process and is 'designated by' some Business Identification
subject matter expert explanation: 1. Any undertaking, venture, initiative, or business organization with a defined mission [APICS]. 2. Organization that sells products or services, or plans to do so.

business process
type: Class
subclass of: planned process
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: BFO_0000057
  some values from: Class
    union of: business organization
    union of: Class
      intersection of: agent
      intersection of: Restriction
        on property: acts on behalf of at some time
        some values from: business organization
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: prescribed by
  some values from: Class
    intersection of: plan specification
    intersection of: Restriction
      on property: BFO_0000110
      some values from: Class
        intersection of: objective specification
        intersection of: Restriction
comment: This definition leaves open the possibility that the business entity that carries the plan that prescribes the process, has no direct participation in the process, which would imply that some 3rd-party agent is playing a causal role as the process unfolds, and is acting on behalf of the Business Entity's interests.
example: product production process; manufacturing enterprise process; finance operation; logistics operation.
first order logic definition: BusinessProcess (p) → PlannedProcess(p) ∧ ∃o,∃b,∃s (ObjectiveSpecification(o) ∧ BusinessOrganization(b) ∧ PlanSpecification(s) ∧ isCarrierOfAtSomeTime(b,o) ∧ continuantPartofAtAllTimes(o,s) ∧ (participatesInAtSomeTime(b,x) ∨∃y (Agent(y) ∧ actsOnBehalfOfAtSomeTime(y,b) ∧ participatesInAtSomeTime(y,x)))
natural language definition: planned process which is prescribed by a plan specification with one or more objectives specified by a business organization
semi formal natural language definition: Business Process x implies x is a Planned Process that is 'prescribed by' some Plan Specification p that 'has continuant part at all times' some Objective Specification o which 'generically depends on at some time' some Business Organization b and x 'has participant at some time' b or an Agent a that 'acts on behalf of at some time' b
subject matter expert explanation: 1. Partially ordered, often nested, set of enterprise activities that can be executed to achieve some desired result in pursuit of a specified objective of an enterprise or a part of an enterprise [ISO 15704] 2. Partially ordered set of enterprise activities that can be executed to achieve some desired end-result in pursuit of a given objective of an organization [ISO/IEC/IEEE 24765]. 3. A set of logically related tasks or activities performed to achieve a defined business outcome [APICS]. 4. A business process is a collection of related, structured activities or tasks that produce a specific service or product for a particular customer or customers [OMG].

buyer role
type: Class
subclass of: agent role
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: role of
  some values from: Class
    intersection of: Class
      union of: business organization
      union of: engineered system
      union of: person
    intersection of: Restriction
      on property: BFO_0000056
      some values from: buying business process
first order logic definition: BuyerRole(x) → Role(x) ∧ ∃y,∃p ((BusinessOrganization(y) ∨ Person(y) ∨ EngineeredSystem(y)) ∧ BuyingBusinessProcess(p) ∧ participatesInAtSomeTime(y,p) ∧ roleOf(x, y))
natural language definition: role held by a person, business organization or an automated system when it buys a product or a service
semi formal natural language definition: Buyer Role x implies x is an Agent Role that is the 'role of' an Agent (person, organization or automated system acting on behalf of one) a when it 'participates in at some time' some Buying Business Process b
subject matter expert explanation: Individual or business organization or automated system that is responsible for buying a product or a service according to a service-agreement [OAGIS]

buying business process
type: Class
subclass of: business process
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: BFO_0000057
  some values from: Class
    intersection of: BFO_0000040
    intersection of: Restriction
      on property: has role
      some values from: buyer role
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: BFO_0000057
  some values from: Class
    union of: commercial service agreement
    union of: material product
comment: 1.The agent who uses the finiancial instrument may not own the financial instrument and hence agent may not be the paying agent. 2. It should be noted that we consciously exclude the person-to-person transactions, but person-to-business is not excluded.
example: GM buys tires from Good Year to be assembled into its cars; GE Conglomerate (buyer) buys steels for uses in productions by its GE aviation subsidiary (customer) and GE Transportation subsidiary (customer)
adapted from: CCO:http://www.ontologyrepository.com/CommonCoreOntologies/ActOfBuying elucidation: OAGIS and CCO
elucidation: business process wherein financial instrument is used by an agent (buyer) to acquire ownership of product or commercial service from another agent (seller) for the buyer itself or another agent (customer)
first order logic definition: BuyingBusinessProcess(x) → BusinessProcess(x) ∧ ∃y,∃z.∃r ((MaterialProduct(y) ∨ CommercialServiceAgreement(y)) ∧ MaterialEntity(z) ∧ BuyerRole(r) ∧ hasRole(z,r) ∧ hasParticipantAtSomeTIme(x,y) ∧ hasParticipantAtSomeTime(x,z))
semi formal natural language definition: Buying Business Process x implies x is a Business Process that 'has participant at some time' some 'material entity' m that 'has role' some Buyer Role r and x 'has participant at some time' some Material Product or Commercial Service Agreement y

capability
type: Class
subclass of: BFO_0000016
comment: 1. Whereas the BFO term 'disposition refers to all tendencies, powers, habits, skills, potentials, and so forth, that a material entity may possess, a Capability narrows this down by requiring the existence of an Agent that has an interest in the realization of the capability 2. This definition does not attempt to capture "task-based" capabilities that an entity may bear -- e.g., a stone's capability to kill when used by some person. Rather, it captures "proper capabilities." See related discussion of "proper functions" in the literature. 3. All functions are capabilities and in a future release BFO:Function will be asserted directly under capability. 4. Not all capabilities are functions. Capabilities are often added to an artifact by the designer/engineer, or to a biological entity through evolution, as "additional benefits," and are differentiated from function (i.e., purpose). Examples: the air conditioner in your car is a capability but not the function of your car. Yet the function of the car air conditioner certainly forms some material basis of your car's ability to provide a comfortable experience. The ability of your heart to beat fast to support your need to run fast to escape a threat. The decaying stick on the forest lawn does not have the function to be used as a tool, but certainly a chimpanzee may have an interest in using a stick to extract food from a termite mound.
comment: Maybe describing Capability vs. Function per Chandrasekaran and Josephson (2000) is a better way to go? Capability = Environment Centric Function and Function = Device Centric function. Function of a Drill is to remove material, it has capability to create hole in a workpiece. Function of a bulb is to produce light/photon particles, it has illumination capability. Capabilities are enabled by functions.
example: Capability of a person to play chess at the "master" level; of a team to play football in the professional league; of a lathe to turn at maximal speed of 4,000 RPM; or of your digestive system to digest tiramisu.
adapted from: http://www.ontologyrepository.com/CommonCoreOntologies/Mid/AgentOntology
elucidation: disposition in whose realization some agent has an interest
subject matter expert explanation: 1. Someone’s or something's ability to bring about processes of a certain kind. 2.From Oxford Languages: Capability is (1) the power or ability to do something, and (2) the extent of someone's or something's ability.
synonym: ability

commercial service
type: Class
subclass of: business process
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: BFO_0000057
  some values from: Class
    intersection of: agent
    intersection of: Restriction
      on property: has role
      some values from: supplier role
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: BFO_0000117
  some values from: supplying business process
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: is subject of
  some values from: commercial service agreement
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: prescribed by
  some values from: commercial service specification
comment: 1.Service provisioning process is considered in IOF as the Supplying Process 2. A consumption process means using or benefiting. 3.Typically, the service provisioning process and consumption process coincide temporally which is different from a material product that is consumed (used) only after supplied.
example: Lufthansa Aviation Services maintains airplanes for United Airlines when the plane stops at Frankfurt International Airport.
first order logic definition: CommercialService(x) → BusinessProcess(x) ∧ ∃p,∃y,∃r,∃a,∃s (CommercialServiceSpecification(p) ∧ Agent(y) ∧ CommercialServiceAgreement(s) ∧ SupplierRole(r) ∧ SupplyingBusinessProcess(a) ∧ hasRole(y,r) ∧ hasParticipantAtSomeTime(x,y) ∧ hasOccurentPart(x,a) ∧ prescribedBy(x,p) ∧ isSubjectOf(x,s))
natural language definition: business process that consists of a service provisioning process and a consumption process
semi formal natural language definition: Commercial Service x implies x is a Business Process that is 'prescribed by' some Commercial Service Specification p and that 'has participant at some time' some Agent y that 'has role' some Supplier Role r and x 'has occurent part' some Supplying Business Process a and x 'is subject of' some Commercial Service Agreement s

commercial service agreement
type: Class
subclass of: information content entity
example: a cellphone plan, a maintenance service agreement, equipment lease agreement that includes a maintenance plan
adapted from: https://spec.edmcouncil.org/fibo/ontology/FND/Agreements/Agreements/Agreement
counter example: a blanket purchase order, commodity contract
elucidation: agreement that is about the provision of a commercial service and associated conditions
subject matter expert explanation: written contract between a client and service provider whereby the service provider supplies some service in the form of time, effort, and/or expertise in exchange for compensation [FIBO]

commercial service specification
type: Class
subclass of: plan specification
first order logic definition: PlanSpecification(x) ∧ ∃c(CommercialService(c) ∧ prescribes(x,c)) → CommercialServiceSpecification(x)
natural language definition: plan specification that prescribes a commercial service
semi formal natural language definition: x is a Plan Specification that 'prescribes' some Commercial Service c implies x is a Commercial Service Specification

computing process
type: Class
subclass of: planned process
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: BFO_0000057
  some values from: Class
    union of: agent
    union of: machine
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: BFO_0000059
  some values from: Class
    intersection of: algorithm
    intersection of: Restriction
      on property: BFO_0000084
      some values from: Class
        union of: agent
        union of: machine
first order logic definition: ComputingProcess(x) → PlannedProcess(x) ∧ ∃y,∃a ((Agent(y) ∨ Machine(y)) ∧ Algorithm(a) ∧ hasParticipantAtSomeTIme(x,y) ∧ genericallyDependsOnAtSomeTime(a,y) ∧ concretizesAtSomeTime(x,a))
natural language definition: planned process in which an algorithm is realized by an agent or a machine
semi formal natural language definition: Computing Process x implies x is a Planned Process that 'has participant at some time' some Agent or Machine y and that 'concretizes at some time' some Algorithm a which 'generically depends on at some time' y

customer role
type: Class
subclass of: agent role
elucidation: role held by an agent when it utilizes the product or receives the service or subscribes to the commercial service agreement
subject matter expert explanation: [OAGIS] Person, organization or automated system that is the end customer of the goods or services being provided in the associated transaction.

descriptive information content entity
type: Class
subclass of: information content entity
comment: This class is intended to be a defined class and can be used for axiomatization and assertion convenience. It is not expected that entities will be asserted a subclass of this class.
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: information content entity
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: describes
    some values from: BFO_0000001
example: a description of a product in a product catalogue, the wheelbase of this car is 3m, digital copy of a Mona Lisa drawing
abbreviation: descriptive ICE
adapted from: http://www.ontologyrepository.com/CommonCoreOntologies/Mid/InformationEntityOntology
first order logic definition: DescriptiveInformationContentEntity(x) ↔ InformationContentEntity(x) ∧ ∃e(Entity(e) ∧ describes(x,e))
natural language definition: information content entity that characterizes an entity
semi formal natural language definition: Descriptive Information Content Entity is an Information Content Entity that 'describes' some Entity
subject matter expert explanation: A textual or schematic representation as it is used to characterize (give a description of) someone or something.

design specification
type: Class
subclass of: information content entity
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: prescribes
  all values from: BFO_0000002
comment: 1. Design specification can take the form of a model, or of a textual or graphical specification 2. This class is not intended to be used to model planned processes and for that purpose plan specification should be used 3. Something man-made’ comprehends those physical and non-physical things that are intentionally created by human beings. Hence the thing specified by a design specification may be either BFO:GDC or BFO:Material Entity. 4. A design specification specifies what the thing should be such as shape, size, tolerance, performance but not necessarily how the thing should be made 5. Typically, a design specification satisfies a set of requirements
example: document specifying the characteristics of a pharmaceutical product; the design of a software program to schedule the work orders in a factory
adapted from: http://www.ontologyrepository.com/CommonCoreOntologies/Mid/InformationEntityOntology
counter example: process design
first order logic definition: DesignSpecification(x) → InformationContentEntity(x) ∧ ∀c(prescribes(x,c) → Continuant(c))
first order logic definition: InformationContentEntity(x) ∧ ∃c, ∃r ( continuant(c) ∧ RequirementSpecification(r) ∧ satisfies(x,r) ∧ prescribes(x,c)) ∧ ∀c'(prescribes(x,c') → Continuant(c')) → DesignSpecification(x)
natural language definition: information content entity that prescribes something man-made
semi formal natural language definition: Design Specification d implies d is an Information Content Entity and that if d 'prescribes' an entity y that y must be a 'continuant'
semi formal natural language definition: d is a Information Content Entity and d prescribes some 'continuant' c and d 'satisfies' some Requirement Specification r and all y 'prescribed by' d are continuants implies d is a Design Specification
subject matter expert explanation: 1. [ISO 14813-5]: How parts or constituents are related to an organised whole, providing specification for the structure, organization, appearance, etc., of a system or entity. 2. Detailed specification or model of something man-made that may satisfy a set of requirements.[CCO]

designative information content entity
type: Class
subclass of: information content entity
comment: This class is intended to be a defined class and can be used for axiomatization and assertion convenience. It is not expected that entities will be asserted a subclass of this class.
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: information content entity
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: designates
    some values from: BFO_0000001
example: uri of a website, social security number of a person, lot number of a batch of products, a serial number on a machine, a credit card number, a combination of data in a database table uniquely identify each record in the table
abbreviation: designative ICE
adapted from: http://www.ontologyrepository.com/CommonCoreOntologies/Mid/InformationEntityOntology
first order logic definition: DesignativeInformationContentEntity(x) ↔ InformationContentEntity(x) ∧ ∃e(Entity(e) ∧ designates(x,e))
natural language definition: information content entity that uniquely identifies an entity
semi formal natural language definition: Designative Information Content Entity is an Information Content Entity that 'designates' some Entity
subject matter expert explanation: some pieces of information such as a sequence of symbols that are used for uniquely identifying an entity

directive information content entity
type: Class
subclass of: information content entity
comment: This class is intended to be a defined class and can be used for axiomatization and assertion convenience. It is not expected that entities will be asserted a subclass of this class.
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: information content entity
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: prescribes
    some values from: BFO_0000001
example: blueprint of a building, process plan, software functional requirement
abbreviation: directive ICE
adapted from: http://www.ontologyrepository.com/CommonCoreOntologies/Mid/InformationEntityOntology
first order logic definition: DirectiveInformationContentEntity(x) ↔ InformationContentEntity(x) ∧ ∃e(Entity(e) ∧ prescribes(x,e))
natural language definition: information content entity that prescribes a set of rules or guidelines for a process or a model of something man-made
semi formal natural language definition: Directive Information Content Entity is an Information Content Entity that 'prescribes' some Entity
subject matter expert explanation: A textual or schematic representation as it is used to guide or govern some tasks or used as a blueprint for building something.

engineered system
type: Class
subclass of: system
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: system
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: BFO_0000196
    some values from: capability
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: prescribed by
    some values from: design specification
example: machine, laptop, traffic light system
first order logic definition: EngineeredSystem(x) ↔ System(x) ∧ ∃d,∃c(DesignSpecification(d) ∧ Capability(c) ∧ prescribes(d,x) ∧ bearerOf(x,c))
natural language definition: system which is designed to provide certain capabilities
semi formal natural language definition: Engineered System is a System that is 'prescribed by' some Design Specification and that is the 'bearer of' some Capability

event
type: Class
subclass of: BFO_0000003
subclass of: Class
  union of: BFO_0000015
  union of: BFO_0000035
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: recognized by at some time
  some values from: agent
example: a machine failure event, the amount of cells in a bioreactor reaches a certain threshold
counter example: an event in discrete event simulation is too generic and that notion of event is just BFO:Occurrent
first order logic definition: Event(x) → (Process(x) ∨ ProcessBoundary(x)) ∧ ∃a(Agent(a) ∧ recognizedByAtSomeTime(x,a))
natural language definition: occurrent that is recognized by an agent and typically recorded
semi formal natural language definition: Event x implies x is a 'process' or 'process boundary' and there is some Agent a that 'recognizes at some time' x

group of agents
type: Class
subclass of: BFO_0000027
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: BFO_0000172
  all values from: agent
comment: Group of agents being a BFO:Object Aggregate allows for a point in time where there is only one Agent present.
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: BFO_0000027
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: BFO_0000172
    some values from: agent
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: BFO_0000172
    all values from: agent
adapted from: http://www.ontologyrepository.com/CommonCoreOntologies/Mid/AgentOntology
first order logic definition: GroupOfAgents(x) ↔ ObjectAggregate(x) ∧ ∃y (Agent(y) ∧ memberPartOfAtAllTimes(y, x)) ∧ ∀z (memberPartOfAtAllTimes(z, x) → Agent(z))
natural language definition: object aggregate that has a number of agents as member parts
semi formal natural language definition: Group of Agents is an 'object aggregate' that only has Agents as 'member parts'
subject matter expert explanation: Group that typically consists of two or more (although there might be a point in time with only one member) persons, organizations or engineered systems, or any combination of these

information content entity
type: Class
subclass of: BFO_0000031
comment: 1.Information Content Entity is here intended to be a class of Entities whose instances are the informational content of Information Bearing Entities. For example, three instances of information bearers -- such as a bar chart, color-coded map, and a written report -- each of which lists the GDP of Countries for the year 2010 are each different bearers of the same information content. It is this content that is generically dependent upon its bearer. This treatment of Informational Content Entity (cf. the Information Artifact Ontology) leads to a principle of subtyping based upon the relationship that ICE's have with the Entity they are about rather than characteristics such as format, language, measurement scale, or media. The latter are treated here as being Qualities of bearers. 2. Information content entities are typically a string or array of symbols. Thus, they can be a textual or schematic representation.
example: the content of an email, the content of a document, the content in a STEP file
abbreviation: ICE
adapted from: Information Artifact Ontology, http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/IAO_0000030 and also the Common Core Ontology, http://www.ontologyrepository.com/CommonCoreOntologies/Mid/InformationEntityOntology
first order logic definition: GenericallyDependentContinuant(x) ∧ ∃e(Entity(e) ∧ isAbout(x,e)) → InformationContentEntity(x)
natural language definition: generically dependent continuant that is about an entity
semi formal natural language definition: x is a 'generically dependent continuant' that 'is about' some 'entity' e implies x is an Information Content Entity
subject matter expert explanation: Information, specification, pattern, thought, or idea independent from its physical media. The physical media can be virtually any physical objects such as human brain, disc, paper, cave wall (as when ancient people wrote on the wall).
synonym: Information Entity

location identification
type: Class
subclass of: information content entity
comment: 1.more entities need to be created to be able to represent coordinates , for that purpose this OGC specification can be a good source: http://docs.opengeospatial.org/is/18-010r7/18-010r7.html#106 2.at this point IOF:Core is only dealing with physical locations while virtual locations will be considered in a future version. 3. physical location is a synonym for BFO:Site and hence the usage of BFO:Site within the axioms should be interpreted as physical location
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: information content entity
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: designates
    some values from: BFO_0000029
example: postal address, GPS coordinate, GS1 global location number (GLN) for physical and digital location, 42.8864° N, 78.8784° W, London, the factory floor
first order logic definition: LocationIdentification(x) ↔ InformationContentEntity(x) ∧ ∃l(Site(l) ∧ designates(x,l))
natural language definition: information content entity that identifies a physical location
semi formal natural language definition: Location Identification is an Information Content Entity that 'designates' some 'site'
subject matter expert explanation: Information that identifies a location typically through coordinate values or through a name or description
synonym: site identifier, site designator

machine
type: Class
subclass of: material artifact
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: BFO_0000110
  some values from: Class
    intersection of: assembly
    intersection of: Restriction
      on property: BFO_0000163
      some values from: BFO_0000034
comment: the current axiom cannot be N&S condition because it would conclude that something like a coffee mug with a lid is a machine
first order logic definition: Machine(x) → MaterialArtifact(x) ∧ ∃c,∃f(Assembly(c) ∧ Function(f) ∧ hasMaterialBasisAtAllTimes(f,c) ∧ hasContinuantPartAtAllTimes(x,c) ∧ inheresIn(f,x))
natural language definition: material artifact that contains a number of physically connected assemblies that work together to realize the artifact’s designed function
semi formal natural language definition: Machine x implies x is a Material Artifact that 'has continuant part at all times', one or more Assemblies c that are the 'material basis at all times' of the 'function' f that 'inheres in' x
subject matter expert explanation: Man-made artifact containing a set of physically-connected components that work together as a unit with some designed function. Other common definitions: 1. ISO 22096:2007(en): Is a mechanical system designed expressly to perform a specific task, such as the forming of material or the transference and transformation of motion, force or energy. 2. Is a mechanical structure that uses power to apply forces and control movement to perform an intended action. Machines can be driven by animals and people, by natural forces such as wind and water, and by chemical, thermal, or electrical power, and include a system of mechanisms that shape the actuator input to achieve a specific application of output forces and movement [WIkipedia].

maintainable material item
type: Class
subclass of: BFO_0000040
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: Class
    union of: engineered system
    union of: material artifact
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: has role
    some values from: maintainable material item role
first order logic definition: MaintainableMaterialItem(x) ↔ (MaterialArtifact(x) ∨ EngineeredSystem(x)) ∧ ∃y (MaintainableMaterialItemRole(y) ∧ hasRole(x,y))
natural language definition: material artifact or engineered system which has the maintainable material item role
semi formal natural language definition: Maintainable Material Item is a Material Artifact or an Engineered System which 'has role' some Maintainable Material Item Role
subject matter expert explanation: A physical asset on which maintenance is actioned according to a maintenance strategy.

maintainable material item role
type: Class
subclass of: BFO_0000023
elucidation: role played by an asset when there is a maintenance strategy prescribing its maintenance process
subject matter expert explanation: The role played by an asset when it is assigned a maintenance strategy.

manufacturer role
type: Class
subclass of: agent role
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: role of
  some values from: Class
    intersection of: business organization
    intersection of: Restriction
      on property: BFO_0000056
      some values from: product production process
first order logic definition: ManufacturerRole(x) → Role(x) ∧ ∃y,∃p (BusinessOrganization(y) ∧ ProductProductionProcess(p) ∧ participatesInAtSomeTime(y,p) ∧ roleOf(x, y))
natural language definition: role held by a business organization when it produces material products
semi formal natural language definition: Manufacturer Role x implies x is an Agent Role that is the 'role of' a Business Organization y when it 'participates in at some time' some Product Production Process p
subject matter expert explanation: An organization has a manufacturer role when it produces goods for sale to wholesalers, retailers or end consumers.[bizfluent.com]

manufacturing process
type: Class
subclass of: planned process
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: BFO_0000057
  some values from: Class
    intersection of: Class
      union of: machine
      union of: person
    intersection of: Restriction
      on property: BFO_0000101
      some values from: plan specification
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has input
  some values from: BFO_0000040
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has specified output
  some values from: Class
    union of: material artifact
    union of: Class
      intersection of: BFO_0000040
      intersection of: Restriction
        on property: prescribed by
        some values from: design specification
comment: 1. This definition presupposes that the outputs of a manufacturing process are in every case material artifacts or man-made substances. 2. Processes that have as their primary output, something immaterial or informational in nature (digital outputs), such as found in the production of software, will be considered speparately at a later stage. 3.. There are other processes that while they may come into direct contact with a manufactured component or substance and are often considered part of the overall set of activities planned and executed to manufacture something, they are not "transformative" in nature relative to that which is manufactured, and are specifically excluded the definition. Examples include setup, tear down, transporting components or materials between locations, inspection, and so forth. This is addressed by output in the axiom. Setup => does not have output. Tear down like disassembly should still be considered transformative. 4. This definition places no additional restrictions on the output of a manufacturing process in terms of being in a state of completion (completed component or finished good).
example: Drilling a hole on an engine block; manufacturing operation for making a shaft consisting of milling, turning, and drilling manufacturing processes; assembly process, and quality control process; a manufacturing process that uses 3D printing to create the output material entity.
counter example: statistical process control and preventative maintenance management processes that maximize machine availability and the product quality of manufactured products.
first order logic definition: ManufacturingProcess(x) → PlannedProcess(x) ∧ ∃m,∃y,∃p,∃z (MaterialEntity(m) ∧ (MaterialArtifact(y) ∨ ∃d( MaterialEntity(y) ∧ DesignSpecification(d) ∧ prescribes(d,y)) ∧ PlanSpecification(p) ∧ prescribes(p,x) ∧ (Person(z) ∨ Machine(z)) ∧ isCarrierOf(z,p) ∧ particiaptesInAtSomeTime(z,x) ∧ isInputOf(m,x) ∧ hasSpecifiedOutput(x,y))
natural language definition: planned process that consists of a structured set of operations through which input material is transformed or modified into another material entity
semi formal natural language definition: Manufacturing Process x implies x is a Planned Process that 'has input' some 'material entity' m and 'has specified output' y which is a Material Artifact or a 'material entity' that is 'prescribes by' some Design Specification d and x 'has participant at some time' some Machine or Person z that is the 'carrier of' some Plan Specification p that prescribes x
subject matter expert explanation: 1. Structured set of activities or operations performed upon material to convert it from the raw material or a semifinished state to a state of further completion. [ISO 15531-1,ISO 15531-43:2006(en)] 2. Series of operations performed on material to convert it from a raw material or a semifinished state to a state of further completion. Manufacturing processes can be arranged in a process layout, product layout, cellular layout, or fixed-position layout. Manufacturing processes can be planned to support make-to-stock, make-to-order, assemble-to-order, and so forth, based on the strategic use and placement of inventories [APICS & ISO 15531-43].

material artifact
type: Class
subclass of: BFO_0000030
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: BFO_0000030
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: BFO_0000196
    some values from: Class
      intersection of: BFO_0000034
      intersection of: Restriction
        on property: prescribed by
        some values from: design specification
example: a machine, a screwdriver, a screw, a sheet of paper
adapted from: http://www.ontologyrepository.com/CommonCoreOntologies/Mid/ArtifactOntology
first order logic definition: MaterialArtifact(x) ↔ Object(x) ∧ ∃f,∃d(Function(f) ∧ DesignSpecification(d) ∧ bearerOf(x,f) ∧ prescribes(d,f))
natural language definition: object that is deliberately created to have a certain function
semi formal natural language definition: Material Artifact is an Object that is a 'bearer of' some 'function' 'prescribed by' some Design Specification
subject matter expert explanation: Object designed by some person or organization to have a certain function. Other common definitions 1. An object made by a human being, typically an item of cultural or historical interest [dictionary]. 2. object made or shaped by a human [ISO 18461]. Note 1: Objects created for their aesthetic value are considered art objects. Note 2: Replicas are excluded.

material component
type: Class
subclass of: BFO_0000040
comment: 1. Assemblies that are components for one manufacturer may be final products for another (e.g., the selling of diesel engines is a primary product line of Cummins diesel engine yet a component assembly for its customers, Freightliner Trucks). The context in which a material entity is used needs to be considered to whether it bears the component role. 2. In most manufacturing use cases material components will be subclass of Material Artifact
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: BFO_0000040
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: has role
    some values from: material component role
example: portion of water; portion of crude oil; sea shells; bolt; transmission assembly;engine in an airplane
counter example: Braking subsystem -- systems and subsystems are object aggregates and often have fiat boundaries, in which case they may be incorrectly inferred as product components. Othertimes, they are systems with bonafide boundaries and should be inferred as a product component.
first order logic definition: MaterialComponent(x) ↔ MaterialEntity(x) ∧ ∃r(MaterialComponentRole(x) ∧ hasRole(x,r))
first order logic definition: MaterialEntity(x) ∧∃y (MaterialEntity(y) ∧ componentPartOfAtAllTimes(x,y)) → MaterialComponent(x)
natural language definition: material entity which has the material component role
semi formal natural language definition: Material Component is a 'material entity' that 'has role' some Material Component Role
semi formal natural language definition: x is a 'material entity' that is 'component part of at all times' some 'material entity' implies x is a Material Component
subject matter expert explanation: From Industrial Contexts: 1. A raw material, part, or subassembly that goes into a higher level assembly, compound, or the final product. This term may also include packaging materials for finished items [APICS]. 2. An individual piece used in the assembly of a single unit of equipment [ISO 13533:2001]
synonym: part

material component role
type: Class
subclass of: BFO_0000023
first order logic definition: Role(x) ∧ ∃c, ∃y(MaterialEntity(c) ∧ MaterialEntity(y) ∧ componentPartOfAtSomeTime(c,y) ∧ roleOf(x, c)) → MaterialComponentRole(x)
natural language definition: role held by a material entity when it is a proper part of another material entity or is planned to be a proper part of another material entity
semi formal natural language definition: x is a 'role of' some material entity c that is 'component part of at some time' some material entity y implies x is Material Component Role

material location change process
type: Class
subclass of: planned process
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: BFO_0000057
  some values from: Class
    intersection of: BFO_0000040
    intersection of: Restriction
      on property:
        inverse of: BFO_0000170
      some values from: Class
        intersection of: BFO_0000004
        intersection of: Restriction
    intersection of: Restriction
      on property:
        inverse of: BFO_0000170
      some values from: Class
        intersection of: BFO_0000004
        intersection of: Restriction
comment: 1. Material transfer process includes both the internal (e.g., inside a factory) and external (e.g., between factories) movement of an object 2. BFO:Site is the synonym for physical location which is why Site is used in the axioms
example: Shipping goods from a warehouse to a customer; moving a tool from one location (work center) to another within the factory; transporting finished goods from one warehouse to another; pumping portions of crude oil through a pipeline; transferring a load of apples from a bin to a container; picking an apple; transporting passengers on a bus;
counter example: A specific type of material handling: E.g., changing only the orientation of the object within the same site (this does not change the site from t to t'); throwing waste into a garbage bin; removing a wing nut from a fixture in preparation for inserting a workpiece into the fixture.
first order logic definition: MaterialLocationChangeProcess(​x​) → PlannedProcess(​x)​ ∧ ​∃​y ∃​​t ∃​​t′​​ ∃​​t'' ∃​s ∃​s′​ ∃​z ∃​z′(Material Entity(​y​) ∧ TemporalInstant(t) ∧ TemporalInstant(t') ∧ TemporalRegion(t'') ∧ IndependentContinuant(s) ∧ IndependentContinuant(s') ∧ Site(z) ∧ Site(z') ∧ hasParticipantAtSomeTime(x,y) ∧ firstInstantOf(​t​, ​t''​) ∧ lastInstantOf(​t'​, ​t''​) ∧ occupiesTemporalRegion(​x,​t'')​ ∧ existsAt(s,t) ∧ existsAt(s',t') ∧ locatedInAtalltimes(s,z) ∧ locatedInAtAlltimes(s',z') ∧ locationOfAtAlltimes(s,y) ∧ locationOfAtAllTimes(s',y))
natural language definition: planned process that results in a material entity moving from one physical location to another
semi formal natural language definition: Material Location Change Process implies a Planned Process in which a 'material entity' is moved from one 'site' to another.
subject matter expert explanation: A process that results in a piece of material such as part or portion of material such as a bucket of metal powder moving from one physical location to another typically by some person, machine, piece of equipment or engineered system but not necessary the case.

material product
type: Class
subclass of: BFO_0000040
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: BFO_0000056
  some values from: Class
    union of: buying business process
    union of: offering for sale business process
    union of: supplying business process
comment: The definition does exclude services sold as product which deviates from some standard definitions and economic theory. Services as products as well as software products will be considered in the next version of the IOF
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: BFO_0000040
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: has role
    some values from: material product role
example: 1. Natural resources: the seashells lying on the beach that some person intends to collect, package and sell; the iron ore in a mountain the rights to which some mining company has just purchased which they intend to mine and sell to iron-making processors. Parcels of real estate some land developer sells to builders. 2. Any manufactured good
counter example: certified pre-owned warranty plan; software as a service (SaaS); training course; consultancy services; Office 365
first order logic definition: MaterialProduct(x) → MaterialEntity(x) ∧ ∃y((BuyingBusinessProcess(y) ∨ OfferingForSaleBusinessProcess(y) ∨SupplyingBusinessProcess(y)) ∧ participatesInAtSomeTime(x,y))
first order logic definition: MaterialProduct(x) ↔ MaterialEntity(x) ∧ ∃r(MaterialProductRole(x) ∧ hasRole(x,r))
natural language definition: material entity which has the material product role
semi formal natural language definition: Material Product is a 'material entity' that is the 'has role' some Material Product Role
semi formal natural language definition: Material Product x implies x is a 'material entity' that 'participates in at some time' some Buying Business Process or Offering for Sale Business Process or Supplying Business Process y
subject matter expert explanation: 1. Material entity for which there is market or internal demand, which some person or organization plans to sell or grant ownership rights to in some economic exchange. 2. A good or service produced for sale or barter [APICS]. 3. Any good or service [ISO/Guide 64:2008]

material product role
type: Class
subclass of: BFO_0000023
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: role of
  some values from: Class
    intersection of: BFO_0000040
    intersection of: Restriction
      on property: BFO_0000056
      some values from: Class
        union of: buying business process
        union of: offering for sale business process
        union of: supplying business process
first order logic definition: MaterialProductRole(x) → Role(x) ∧ ∃y,∃z((BuyingBusinessProcess(y) ∨ OfferingForSaleBusinessProcess(y) ∨SupplyingBusinessProcess(y)) ∧ MaterialEntity(z) participatesInAtSomeTime(z,y) ∧ roleOf(x,z))
natural language definition: role held by a material entity when it is being offered for sale, or for supplying or is being bought
semi formal natural language definition: Material Product Role x implies x is a 'role' that is the 'role of' some 'material entity' m when it 'participates in at some time' some Buying Business Process or Offering For Sale Business Process or Supplying Business Process y

material resource
type: Class
subclass of: BFO_0000040
comment: 1. This defined class is designed to group material entities according to a very broad criterion and is not intended to be used as a parent class for resource types that can be more specifically asserted under another class. 2. Skills and capabilities or other entities in the sdc branch are not resources but they can be considered resources indirectly through their bearer
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: BFO_0000040
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: has role
    some values from: material resource role
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: BFO_0000040
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: is available to at some time
    some values from: Class
      union of: engineered system
      union of: group of agents
      union of: person
example: Intangible examples: intellectual property; software program; data; knowledge. Tangible examples: person; factory; a body of water available to cool a reactor; money; a portion of raw material available to produce a good or service.
counter example: (ambiguous/undesirable): a portion of water on my factory floor that formed after a recent rainshower.
first order logic definition: MaterialResource(x) ↔ MaterialEntity(x) ∧ ∃r(MaterialResourceRole(x) ∧ hasRole(x,r))
first order logic definition: MaterialResource(x) ↔ MaterialEntity(x) ∧ ∃a((Person(a) ∨ GroupOfAgents(a) ∨ EngineeredSystem(a)) ∧ isAvailableToAtSomeTime(x,a))
natural language definition: material entity which has the material resource role
semi formal natural language definition: Material Resource is a 'material entity' that 'has role' some Material Resource Role
semi formal natural language definition: Material Resource is a 'material entity' that 'is available to at some time' some Person or Group of Agents or Engineered System
subject matter expert explanation: 1. A stock or supply of money, materials, staff, and other assets that can be drawn on by a person or organization in order to function effectively [Oxford Languages]. 2. A source or supply from which a benefit is produced and that has some utility [Wikipedia].

material resource role
type: Class
subclass of: BFO_0000023
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: BFO_0000023
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: role of
    some values from: Class
      intersection of: BFO_0000040
      intersection of: Restriction
        on property: is available to at some time
        some values from: Class
adapted from: http://www.ontologyrepository.com/CommonCoreOntologies/Mid/ArtifactOntology
first order logic definition: MaterialResourceRole(x) ↔ Role(x) ∧ ∃a,∃y((Person(a) ∨ GroupOfAgents(a) ∨ EngineeredSystem(y)) ∧ MaterialEntity(y) ∧ isAvailableToAtSomeTime(y,a) ∧ roleOf(x,y))
natural language definition: role played by a material entity that consists in it being available to a person or group of agents or engineered system
semi formal natural language definition: Material Resource Role is a 'role' that is the 'role of' some 'material entity' when it 'is available to at some time' some Person or Group of Agents or Engineered System

measurement information content entity
type: Class
subclass of: information content entity
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: is output of
  some values from: measurement process
example: 10 meter (measurement information content entity of a length quality of something); similarity measurement of information; a two fold increase in expression of a gene in a cancer patient; result of the DNA sequencing
abbreviation: measurement ICE
adapted from: http://www.ontologyrepository.com/CommonCoreOntologies/Mid/InformationEntityOntology
first order logic definition: MeasurementInformationContentEntity → InformationContentEntity(x) ∧ ∃m(MeasurementProcess(m) ∧ isOutputOf(x,m))
natural language definition: information content entity that is the result of a measurement process
semi formal natural language definition: x is an Measurement Content Entity implies x is an Information Content Entity and 'is output of' some Measurement Process
subject matter expert explanation: A numerical or categorical representation of some attribute of an entity relative to some scale or classification scheme

measurement process
type: Class
subclass of: planned process
adapted from: elucidation was adapted from: ISO 9000:2015(en), 3.11.5
elucidation: planned process to determine the value of a quantity

objective specification
type: Class
subclass of: information content entity
comment: Typically is part of the plan specification
example: The objective specification in a manufacturer's six-sigma process improvement program will describe in some detail, the quality improvements to be achieved (as in e.g. the level of reduction in causes of defects, or in the level variability in either or both manufacturing and business processes).
adapted from: http://www.obofoundry.org/ontology/iao.html
first order logic definition: InformatiionContentEntity(x) ∧ (∃y(ProcessCharacteristic(y) ∨ Capability(y) ∧ prescribes(x,y)) ∨ ∃c,∃p(Continuant(c) ∧ Process(p) ∧ isOutputOf(c,p) ∧ prescribes(x,c))) → ObjectiveSpecification(x)
natural language definition: information content entity that prescribes what the outcome of some process should be
semi formal natural language definition: x is an Information Content Entity that 'prescribes' some Process Characteristic or Capability y or 'continuant' c which is the 'output of' some 'process' p implies an x is an Objective Specification
subject matter expert explanation: A detailed description of what the outcomes of some process should be.

organized group of agents
type: Class
subclass of: group of agents
comment: 1. Members of organizations are either Organizations themselves or individual Persons. Members can bear specific Organization Member Roles that are determined in the organization rules. The organization rules also determine how decisions are made on behalf of the Organization by the organization members. 2. The group of agents will be such that its activities are governed by a common set of rules. 3. This wasn't called Organization because, it can be a group of machines. It would sound odd to conclude that it is an organization.
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: group of agents
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: BFO_0000196
    some values from: Class
      intersection of: BFO_0000034
      intersection of: Restriction
        on property: prescribed by
        some values from: directive information content entity
example: goverment, a company, a political party, a city goverment, yakuza, business unit, department, division, an automated manufacturing cell
adapted from: http://www.ontologyrepository.com/CommonCoreOntologies/Mid/AgentOntology
first order logic definition: OrganizedGroupOfAgents(x) ↔ ObjectAggregate(x) ∧ ∃i,∃f(DirectiveInformationContentEntity(i) ∧ Function(f) ∧ bearerOf(x, f) ∧ prescribes(i, f))
natural language definition: group of agents that is pursuing a common set of plans and objectives
semi formal natural language definition: Organized Group Of Agents is a Group of Agents that is the 'bearer of some' 'function' which is 'prescribed by' some Directive Information Content Entity

person
type: Class
subclass of: BFO_0000030
elucidation: object that is the member of the species of homo sapiens

plan specification
type: Class
subclass of: information content entity
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: BFO_0000110
  some values from: action specification
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: BFO_0000110
  some values from: objective specification
comment: When concretized, plan specification may be realized in a process performed by some agent to achieve the prescribed process objectives by taking the prescribed actions.
example: a manufacturer's sales plan for this quarter, process plan for producing a part
adapted from: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/IAO_0000104
first order logic definition: InformationContentEntity(x) ∧ ∃a, ∃o,∃p(ActionSpecification(a) ∧ ObjectiveSpecification(o) ∧ PlannedProcess(p) ∧ continuantPartOfAtAllTimes(a,x) ∧ continuantPartOfAtAllTimes(o,x) ∧ prescribes(x,p)) → PlanSpecification(x)
natural language definition: information content entity that has action specifications and objective specifications as parts
semi formal natural language definition: x is an Information Content Entity that 'prescribes' some Planned Process p and 'has continuant part at all times' some Action Specification a and some Objective Specification o implies x is a Plan Specification
subject matter expert explanation: Detailed description for doing or realizing something. [Oxford Languages]
synonym: process design
synonym: process specification

planned process
type: Class
subclass of: BFO_0000015
comment: 1. 'Planned' is here functioning as a specifier, rather than as a modifier analogous to 'cancelled' or 'averted'. Therefore, to say that a process is planned is not to say that it has not yet taken place. Rather, it is to say that it is (was or will have been) protocol-driven, instruction-driven, command-driven, or software-driven, or in some combination thereof, as prescribed by one or more directive information content entities. 2. 'Planned' means 'protocol driven'. Protocols may be written, spoken, or simply thought – as when upon waking up, we plan, for instance, what to eat for breakfast.
comment: By specifying 'PlannedProcess prescribed by some 'Plan Specification' as N&S condition, we are saying a Process resulting from just Objective Specification or Requirement Specification cannot be a planned process. This may need further consideration. If this does not hold, we would need to change the axiom to ‘prescribes by some Directive ICE’ and the axiom can be only necessary condition. And ‘prescribes by some 'Plan Specification' becomes only sufficient condition.
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: BFO_0000015
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: prescribed by
    some values from: plan specification
example: A tire manufacturing process occurs as prescribed by a manufacturing plan specification.
counter example: unexpected failure events; unexpected malfunctioning of a machine; safety occurrence (that lacks explicit plan specifications);
first order logic definition: PlannedProcess(x) ↔ Process(x) ∧ ∃s (PlanSpecification(s) ∧ prescribes(s, x))
natural language definition: process that is prescribed by a plan specification
semi formal natural language definition: Planned Process is a 'process' that is 'prescribed by' some Plan Specification
subject matter expert explanation: Process that is documented by both a description and a plan. Note 1 to entry: The related process description and plan are coordinated, and the plan can include standards, requirements, objectives, resources, and assignments. [ISO/IEC/IEEE 24765]

process characteristic
type: Class
subclass of: BFO_0000003
comment: Here ‘attribute’ is not a technical term.
example: the rate of production of a product production process, heart rate, the rate of temperature change resulting from a heating process
elucidation: attribute of a process

procuring business process
type: Class
subclass of: business process
comment: 1. The procurement process considers the whole cycle from identification of needs through to the end of a services contract or the end of the life of goods, including disposal. 2. Sourcing is a part of the procurement process that includes planning, defining specifications (3.26) and selecting suppliers. [Source: ISO 20400:2017] 3. It should be noted that we consciously exclude the person-to-person transactions, but person-to-business is not excluded.
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: business process
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: BFO_0000117
    some values from: buying business process
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: BFO_0000117
    some values from: Class
      union of: offering for sale business process
      union of: supplying business process
first order logic definition: ProcuringBusinessProcess(x) ↔ BusinessProcess(x) ∧ ∃b,∃s (BuyingBusinessProcess(b) ∧ SupplyingBusinessProcess(s) ∧ hasOccurrentPart(x,b) ∧ hasOccurrentPart(x,s))
natural language definition: business Process that consists of buying and supplying products or services
semi formal natural language definition: Procuring Business Process is a Business Process that has some Buying Business Process and Supplying Business Process as 'occurent parts'
subject matter expert explanation: 1. Activity of acquiring goods or services from suppliers. 2. process which creates, manages and fulfils contracts relating to the provision of goods, services and construction works or disposals, or any combination thereof [SOURCE: ISO 6707-2:2017, 3.5.18]

product production process
type: Class
subclass of: business process
comment: 1. A product production process is distinct from a maintenance process in that, in the latter case, the product exists both before and after the process occurs. 2. A product production process has several planned processes as parts (sub-processes), including at least one manufacturing or assembly process, and optionally, may include other planned process types such as inspection, packaging, rework, and material-handling. 3. Note that the various parts of a product production process, for example, inspection, testing, cannot be a product production process by themselves. 4. Some manufacturing processes will also be product production processes.
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: business process
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: BFO_0000117
    some values from: manufacturing process
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: BFO_0000199
    some values from: Class
      intersection of: BFO_0000008
      intersection of: Restriction
        on property: BFO_0000222
        some values from: Class
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: has output
    some values from: material product
example: Making of an engine block as a product that consits of many processes such as manufacturing process, assembly process, inspection process etc.
counter example: 1.Providing a service that does not deliver any tangible good 2.Acquiring unprocessed raw material (e.g., roll of aluminum) with intention to sell them or reselling. The Product existed before the initiation of the planned process.
first order logic definition: ProductProductionProcess(x) ↔ BusinessProcess(x) ∧ ∃m (ManufacturingProcess(m) ∧ occurentPartOf(m,x)) ∧ ∃y ∃t ∃t′ (MaterialProduct(y) ∧ TemporalRegion(t) ∧ TemporalInstant(t') ∧ hasOutput(x, y) ∧ occupiesTemporalRegion(x, t) ∧ firstInstant(t′, t) ∧ ¬existsAt(y, t′))
natural language definition: business process that consists of at least one manufacturing process through which raw materials and components are transformed or modified to create a material product
semi formal natural language definition: Product Production Process is a Business Process that 'has occurrent part', some Planned Process, including at least one Manufacturing Process, and 'has output' some Material Product and which did not 'exist at' the beginning of the Product Production Process
subject matter expert explanation: 1. (i) Steps through which raw materials are transformed into a final product. (ii) Process in which] raw materials from primary industry are transformed into finished goods on a large scale. (iii) Production of products for use or sale using labor and machines, tools, chemical or biological processing or formulation, and is the essence of secondary industry. [Wikipedia]

raw material
type: Class
subclass of: BFO_0000040
comment: this class is very general and it is intended to be used for grouping inputs to the product production process external to the bussiness organization but things like material artifacts should not be asserted as subclasses of this class
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: BFO_0000040
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: has role
    some values from: raw material role
example: rolls of aluminum a manufacturer purchases to be consumed on its bottling lines to produce aluminum cans to package its product, crude oil that is converted into gasoline in a refining process; wheels an automobile manufacturer purchases to assemble into a car
counter example: oil used to power the refining process
first order logic definition: RawMaterial(x) ↔ MaterialEntity(x) ∧ ∃r(RawMaterialRole(x) ∧ hasRole(x,r))
natural language definition: material entity which has the raw material role
semi formal natural language definition: Raw Material is a 'material entity' that 'has role' some Raw Material Role
subject matter expert explanation: Material substance, part, or assembly that is purchased by a manufacturing business to be transformed or modified in some manufacturing process such that it becomes a part of the final product.

raw material role
type: Class
subclass of: BFO_0000023
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: role of
  some values from: Class
    intersection of: BFO_0000040
    intersection of: Restriction
      on property: BFO_0000056
      some values from: Class
        intersection of: buying business process
        intersection of: Restriction
comment: 1. IOF considers as raw materials only material entities that are aquired from an external source 2. Raw materials are incorporated during the product production process into the final product.
example: rolls of aluminum a manufacturer purchases to be consumed to produce aluminum cans
counter example: a component produced by one division of a manufacturer and consumed in another
first order logic definition: RawMaterialRole(x) → Role(x) ∧ ∃a,∃b,∃r, ∃z(BuyingBusinessProcess(a) ∧ BusinessOrganization(b) ∧ ManufacturerRole(r) ∧MaterialEntity(z) ∧ roleOf(r,b) ∧ hasParticipantAtSomeTime(a,b) ∧ hasParticipantAtSomeTime(a,z))
first order logic definition: Role(x) ∧ ∃p,∃a,∃b,∃y,∃r, ∃z(ProductProductionProcess(p) ∧ BuyingBusinessProcess(a) ∧ BusinessOrganization(b) ∧ MaterialProduct(y) ∧ ManufacturerRole(r) ∧MaterialEntity(z) ∧ roleOf(r,b) ∧ hasParticipantAtSomeTime(a,b) ∧ hasParticipantAtSomeTime(a,z) ∧ isInputOf(z,p) ∧ hasOutput(p,y) ∧ continuantPartOfAtAllTimes(z,y) ∧ roleOf(x,z)) → RawMaterialRole(x)
natural language definition: role held by a material entity when it is aquired by a business organization with the plan to be transformed or modified in a product production process
semi formal natural language definition: x is a 'role' that is the 'role of' some 'material entity' m when 'participates at some time' some Buying Business Process b in which a Business Organization o that 'has role' a Manufacturer Role r 'participates in at some time' and is an 'input of' some Product Production Process p where it becomes a 'continuant part of at all times' some Material Product y which is the 'output of' p implies x is a Raw Material Role
semi formal natural language definition: x is a Raw Material role implies x is a 'role' that is the 'role of' some 'material entity' m when m 'participates in at some time' some Buying Business Process b in which some Business Organization o that 'has role' a Manufacturer role r 'participates in at some time'
subject matter expert explanation: [APICS] material which is purchased and that is converted or consumed via a manufacturing process into components and products

requirement specification
type: Class
subclass of: information content entity
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: is about
  some values from: objective specification
comment: This can be context specific also. For example an UML class diagram may be a requirement specification for a data exchange specification or it can be a design specification for software code
example: UML use case document, competency questions, high level activity diagram
adapted from: https://demo-irm-dnvgl.northeurope.cloudapp.azure.com/ontology/requirement-ontology/core/A01A
first order logic definition: InformationContentEntity(x) ∧ ∃y (Entity(y) ∧ satisfiedBy(x,y)) → RequirementSpecification(x)
first order logic definition: RequirementSpecification(x) → InformationContentEntity(x) ∧ ∃y (ObjectiveSpecification(y) ∧ isAbout(x,y))
natural language definition: information content entity that prescribes a set of requirements
semi formal natural language definition: Requirement Specification x implies x is an Information Content Entity that 'is about' some Objective Specification o
semi formal natural language definition: r is an Information Content Entity and there is an entity e that 'satisfies' e implies r is a Requirement Specification

offering for sale business process
type: Class
subclass of: business process
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: BFO_0000057
  some values from: Class
    intersection of: BFO_0000040
    intersection of: Restriction
      on property: has role
      some values from: supplier role
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: BFO_0000057
  some values from: Class
    union of: commercial service agreement
    union of: material product
comment: It should be noted that we consciously exclude the person-to-person transactions, but person-to-business is not excluded.
example: Good Year sells tires to GM, Boeing sells 737 and 10 Service Agreement to United Airlines.
elucidation: business process wherein product or commercial service is offered by an agent (seller) for another agent (buyer) to acquire ownership via a financial instrument
first order logic definition: OfferingForSaleBusinessProcess(x) → BusinessProcess(x) ∧ ∃y,∃z.∃r ((MaterialProduct(y) ∨ CommercialServiceAgreement(y)) ∧ MaterialEntity(z) ∧ SupplierRole(r) ∧ hasRole(z,r) ∧ hasParticipantAtSomeTIme(x,y) ∧ hasParticipantAtSomeTime(x,z))
semi formal natural language definition: Offering for Sale Business Process x implies x is a Business Process that 'has participant at some time' some 'material entity' m that 'has role' some Supplier Role r and x 'has participant at some time' some Material Product or Commercial Service Agreement y

state
type: Class
subclass of: BFO_0000015
comment: 1.In the elucidation 'attribute' is not intended as a technical term. It comprehends specifically dependent continuants and locations. 2. the current class is not intended to be used for modeling states of processes. They will be considered in a future version of the core.
alternative label: stasis
example: the lightswitch in the off state from 9 PM to 8 AM; the machine in fail state from 4 PM to 5 PM; perfusion bioreactor was run in steady state for two days, a truck is in a stop state because its position has been unchanged
adapted from: http://www.ontologyrepository.com/CommonCoreOntologies/Mid/EventOntology
elucidation: process in which one or more of the attributes of a participant in the process remain constant or within specified ranges
subject matter expert explanation: the particular condition that someone or something is in at a specific time [https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/state]

supplier role
type: Class
subclass of: agent role
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: role of
  some values from: Class
    intersection of: Class
      union of: business organization
      union of: engineered system
      union of: person
    intersection of: Restriction
      on property: BFO_0000056
      some values from: Class
        union of: offering for sale business process
        union of: supplying business process
example: logistics service provider; vending machine; the material handling department (which manages the raw material and finished goods in company warehouses, and provides material handling services to manufacturing and other departments within its factories)
first order logic definition: SupplierRole(x) → Role(x) ∧ ∃y,∃p ((BusinessOrganization(y) ∨ Person(y) ∨ EngineeredSystem(y)) ∧ ((SupplyingBusinessProcess(p) ∨ OfferingForSaleBusinessProcess(p)) ∧ participatesInAtSomeTime(y,p) ∧ roleOf(x, y))
natural language definition: role held by a person, business organization or an automated system when it offers to sell or provide products or services
semi formal natural language definition: Supplier Role x implies x is an Agent Role that is the 'role of' an Agent (person, organization or automated system acting on behalf of one) a when it 'participates in at some time' some Supplying Business Process or Offering for Sale Business Process s
subject matter expert explanation: 1. [Oxford Languages]: A person, organization or automated system that provides something needed such as a product or service. 2. [APICS]: (a) A provider of goods or services. (b) A seller with whom a buyer does business (as opposed to vendor, which is a generic term referring to all sellers in the marketplace).

supplying business process
type: Class
subclass of: business process
subclass of: Class
  union of: Restriction
    on property: BFO_0000057
    some values from: material product
  union of: Restriction
    on property: BFO_0000132
    some values from: commercial service
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: BFO_0000057
  some values from: Class
    intersection of: BFO_0000040
    intersection of: Restriction
      on property: has role
      some values from: supplier role
comment: 1. To supply a product means to deliver the product to another agent. 2.To supply a service means to perform a process (e.g. commercial service) for another agent, typically involving a service agreement 3.It should be noted that we consciously exclude the person-to-person transactions, but person-to-business is not excluded.
example: A BMW dealer supplies a car to the Customer, A US importer of steel from China supplies the steel to a US manufacturer, A company (supplier) supplied (ship directly) a product to a buyer who bought the product on Amazon (seller)
counter example: A BMW dealer supplies a car to a Customer in the US, but the BMW Manufacturer in Germany does not supply the car to the Customer. The BMW Manufacturer supplies the car to the BMW dealer.
elucidation: business process wherein product or service is supplied
first order logic definition: SupplyingBusinessProcess(x) → BusinessProcess(x) ∧ ∃y,∃r(MaterialEntity(y) ∧ SupplierRole(r) ∧ hasRole(y,r) ∧ hasParticipantAtSomeTime(x,y)) ∧ (∃p(MaterialProduct(p) ∧ hasParticipantAtSomeTime(x,p)) ∨ ∃c(CommercialService(c) ∧ occurrentPartOf(x,c)))
semi formal natural language definition: Supplying Business Process x implies x is a Business Process that 'has participant at some time' some 'material entity' m that 'has role' some Supplier Role r and x 'has participant at some time' some Material Product y or is 'occurent part of' some Commercial Service c

system
type: Class
subclass of: BFO_0000027
comment: 1. In almost all cases elements are objects, so that the system itself is a BFO: object aggregate 2. Although System as an object aggregate is constrained by BFO to have only Material Entity (or Site or Continuant Fiat Boundary) as continuant parts, system of software and hardware (also known as cyberphysical system) can still be modeled. The approach is that there is a hardware (Material Entity) that software (as Information Content Entity) generically depends on for the software to indirectly be part of a system.
example: solar system, digestive system, forest ecosystem, hydraulic system, subway system, social system, technical system, natural system
elucidation: object aggregate that has continuant part two or more elements that interact with each other
subject matter expert explanation: 1. A set of things working together as parts of a mechanism or an interconnecting network. [Oxford Languages] 2. Collection of elements in interaction. Definition applies to natural, social or technical systems.

achieves at some time
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: BFO_0000059
domain: planned process
range: information content entity
inverse of: is achieved by at some time
example: The staffing and ramping up of production to 2 shifts per work day acheives the company plan of satisfying a surge in demand for its products.
elucidation: x achieves y holds when x is a Planned Process and y is an Information Content Entity that 'prescribes' x and x 'concretizes' y or a 'continuant part of' y, at some time t FOL: achieves(x,y) → PlannedProcess(x) ∧ InformationContentEntity(y) ∧ (concretizesAtSomeTime(x,y) ∨ ∃z(continuantPartOf(z,y) ∧ InformationContentEntity(z) ∧ concretizesAtSomeTime(x,z))

acts on behalf of at some time
type: ObjectProperty
domain: Class
  intersection of: BFO_0000040
  intersection of: Class
    complement of: BFO_0000024
range: Class
  union of: engineered system
  union of: group of agents
  union of: person
example: An agent acts on behalf of a business organization. A laywer acts on behalf of a person.
elucidation: x acts on behalf of at some time y holds when x is a 'material entity' (that is not a 'fiat object part') and y is some Person or Group of Agents or Engineered System and at some time t, there exists a Planned Process p such that x 'participates in' p and p 'achieves at some time' some Directive Information Content Entity d that 'generically depends on at some time' y FOL: actsOnBehalfOfAtSomeTime(x,y) → (MaterialEntity(x) ∧ ¬(FiatObjectPart(x)) ∧ (Person(y) ∨ GroupOfAgents(y) ∨ EngineeredSystem(x)) ∧ ∃p,∃d (PlannedProcess(p) ∧ DirectiveInformationContentEntity(d) ∧ participatesInAtSomeTime(x,p) ∧achievesAtSomeTime(p,d) ∧ genericallyDependsOnAtSomeTime(d,y))

component part of at all times
type: ObjectProperty
type: TransitiveProperty
sub property of: BFO_0000137
sub property of: component part of at some time
domain: Class
  intersection of: BFO_0000040
  intersection of: Class
    complement of: BFO_0000024
range: Class
  intersection of: BFO_0000040
  intersection of: Class
    complement of: BFO_0000024
example: transmission assembly is a component part of a car; engine control ;sparger is a component part of a bioreactor
elucidation: x component part of at all times y holds when x is a 'material entity' that is not a 'fiat object part' and y is a 'material entity' that is not a 'fiat object part' and x is 'proper continuant part of at all times' y FOL: componentPartOfAtAllTimes(x,y) → (MaterialEntity(x) ∧ ¬(FiatObjectPart(x))) ∧ (MaterialEntity(y) ∧ ¬(FiatObjectPart(y))) ∧ properContinuantPartOfAtAllTimes(x,y)

component part of at some time
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: BFO_0000175
domain: Class
  intersection of: BFO_0000040
  intersection of: Class
    complement of: BFO_0000024
range: Class
  intersection of: BFO_0000040
  intersection of: Class
    complement of: BFO_0000024
inverse of: has component part at some time
elucidation: x component part of at some time y holds when x is a 'material entity' that is not a 'fiat object part' and y is a 'material entity' that is not a 'fiat object part' and x is 'proper continuant part of at some time' y FOL: componentPartOfAtSomeTime(x,y) → (MaterialEntity(x) ∧ ¬(FiatObjectPart(x))) ∧ (MaterialEntity(y) ∧ ¬(FiatObjectPart(y))) ∧ properContinuantPartOfAtSomeTime(x,y)

described by
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: is subject of
domain: BFO_0000001
range: information content entity
inverse of: describes
adapted from: http://www.ontologyrepository.com/CommonCoreOntologies/Mid/InformationEntityOntology
elucidation: x described by y iff y is an instance of Information Content Entity, and x is an instance of 'entity', such that y is about the characteristics by which y can be recognized or visualized.

describes
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: is about
comment: It is possible that this relation should be a functional property, that is for all x, y, z if x describes y and x describes z then y = z. For example, if a financial report x describes the quarterly results of a company y and that same financial report describes the quarterly results of a company z, then it should be inferred that companies y and z are the same. We refrained from classifying the relation as a functional property on the concern that descriptions are multifaceted and so consequently it may be that the same report would contain descriptions of multiple entities.
domain: information content entity
range: BFO_0000001
example: the content of a newspaper article describes some current event; the content of a visitor's log describes some facility visit; the content of an accident report describes some accident
adapted from: http://www.ontologyrepository.com/CommonCoreOntologies/Mid/InformationEntityOntology
elucidation: x describes y iff x is an instance of Information Content Entity, and y is an instance of 'entity', such that x 'is about' the characteristics by which y can be recognized or visualized

designated by
type: ObjectProperty
type: InverseFunctionalProperty
sub property of: is subject of
domain: BFO_0000001
range: information content entity
inverse of: designates
adapted from: http://www.ontologyrepository.com/CommonCoreOntologies/Mid/InformationEntityOntology
elucidation: x designated by y iff y is an instance of Information Content Entity and x is an instance of 'entity', such that given some context, y uniquely distinguishes x from other entities.

designates
type: ObjectProperty
type: FunctionalProperty
sub property of: is about
domain: information content entity
range: BFO_0000001
example: a person's name designates that person; a URL designates the location of a Web Page on the internet; a vehicle identification number designates some vehicle
adapted from: http://www.ontologyrepository.com/CommonCoreOntologies/Mid/InformationEntityOntology
elucidation: x designates y iff x is an instance of an Information Content 'entity', and y is an instance of an Entity, such that given some context, x uniquely distinguishes y from other entities.

disposition of
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: BFO_0000197
domain: BFO_0000016
range: BFO_0000004
inverse of: has disposition
adapted from: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/RO_0000092
elucidation: inverse of has disposition

function of
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: BFO_0000197
comment: A function inheres in its bearer at all times for which the function exists, however the function need not be realized at all the times that the function exists.
domain: BFO_0000034
range: BFO_0000004
inverse of: has function
example: this catalysis function is a function of this enzyme
adapted from: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/RO_0000079
elucidation: a relation between a function and an independent continuant (the bearer), in which the function specifically depends on the bearer for its existence

has component part at all times
type: ObjectProperty
type: TransitiveProperty
sub property of: BFO_0000111
sub property of: has component part at some time
domain: Class
  intersection of: BFO_0000040
  intersection of: Class
    complement of: BFO_0000024
range: Class
  intersection of: BFO_0000040
  intersection of: Class
    complement of: BFO_0000024
elucidation: x has component part at all times y holds when x is a 'material entity' that is not a 'fiat object part' and y is a 'material entity' that is not a 'fiat object part' and x is 'has proper continuant part at all times' y FOL: hasComponentPartAtAllTimes(x,y) → (MaterialEntity(x) ∧ ¬(FiatObjectPart(x))) ∧ (MaterialEntity(y) ∧ ¬(FiatObjectPart(y))) ∧ hasProperContinuantPartAtAllTimes(x,y)

has component part at some time
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: BFO_0000174
domain: Class
  intersection of: BFO_0000040
  intersection of: Class
    complement of: BFO_0000024
range: Class
  intersection of: BFO_0000040
  intersection of: Class
    complement of: BFO_0000024

has disposition
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: BFO_0000196
domain: BFO_0000004
range: BFO_0000016
adapted from: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/RO_0000091
elucidation: a relation between an independent continuant (the bearer) and a disposition, in which the disposition specifically depends on the bearer for its existence

has function
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: BFO_0000196
comment: A bearer can have many functions, and its functions can exist for different periods of time, but none of its functions can exist when the bearer does not exist. A function need not be realized at all the times that the function exists.
domain: BFO_0000004
range: BFO_0000034
example: this enzyme has function this catalysis function (more colloquially: this enzyme has this catalysis function)
adapted from: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/RO_0000085
elucidation: a relation between an independent continuant (the bearer) and a function, in which the function specifically depends on the bearer for its existence

has input
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: BFO_0000057
domain: BFO_0000015
range: BFO_0000002
inverse of: is input of
adapted from: http://www.ontologyrepository.com/CommonCoreOntologies/Mid/ExtendedRelationOntology
elucidation: y has input x iff x is an instance of Continuant and y is an instance of Process, such that the presence of x at the begining of y is a necessary condition for the start of y.

has output
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: BFO_0000057
domain: BFO_0000015
range: BFO_0000002
inverse of: is output of
adapted from: http://www.ontologyrepository.com/CommonCoreOntologies/Mid/ExtendedRelationOntology
elucidation: y has output x iff x is an instance of Continuant and y is an instance of Process, such that the presence of x at the end of y is a necessary condition for the completion of y.

has process characteristic
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: topObjectProperty
domain: BFO_0000015
range: process characteristic
inverse of: process characteristic of

has quality
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: BFO_0000196
comment: A bearer can have many qualities, and its qualities can exist for different periods of time, but none of its qualities can exist when the bearer does not exist.
range: BFO_0000019
inverse of: quality of
example: this apple has quality this red color
adapted from: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/RO_0000086
elucidation: a relation between an independent continuant (the bearer) and a quality, in which the quality specifically depends on the bearer for its existence

has role
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: BFO_0000196
comment: A bearer can have many roles, and its roles can exist for different periods of time, but none of its roles can exist when the bearer does not exist. A role need not be realized at all the times that the role exists.
domain: BFO_0000004
range: BFO_0000023
inverse of: role of
example: this person has role this investigator role (more colloquially: this person has this role of investigator)
adapted from: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/RO_0000087
elucidation: a relation between an independent continuant (the bearer) and a role, in which the role specifically depends on the bearer for its existence

has specified output
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: has output
comment: this relation was added to specifically model the outputs that are not byproducts/wasteproducts
domain: planned process
range: BFO_0000002
inverse of: is specified output of
adapted from: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/IAO_0000122
elucidation: x has specified output y when x is a planned process and y is a continuant that participates in x and the presence of y at the end of x is prescribed by some objective specification o which x achieves FOL: hasSpecifiedOutput(x,y) → PlannedProcess(x) ∧ Continuant(y) ∧ ∃o (ObjectiveSpecification(o) ∧ prescribes(o,y) ∧ achieves(x,o) ∧ hasOutput(x,y))
synonym: has intended output

is about
type: ObjectProperty
domain: information content entity
range: BFO_0000001
inverse of: is subject of
adapted from: IAO:http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/IAO_0000136 and CCO:http://www.ontologyrepository.com/CommonCoreOntologies/Mid/InformationEntityOntology
elucidation: primitive, generic relationship between an Information Content Entity and some 'entity'

is achieved by at some time
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: BFO_0000058
domain: directive information content entity
range: planned process

is available to at some time
type: ObjectProperty
comment: this definition of 'is available to' is not the same as the state of availability e.g a machine is idle hence it is in the available state
domain: Class
  union of: BFO_0000031
  union of: Class
    intersection of: BFO_0000004
    intersection of: Class
      complement of: BFO_0000006
range: Class
  union of: engineered system
  union of: group of agents
  union of: person
example: a plan specification (resource) is available to an operator to use in a machining process, a roll of aluminum (resource) is avaiable to an agent to use in a forming process, a milling workstation (resource) is avaialable to a manufacturing factory to produce some parts
elucidation: independent continuant x is available to at some time agent y means y is a Person or Group of Agents or Engineered system and y is the 'carrier of at some time' some Directive Information Content Entity i which is 'achieved by at some time' some Planned Process p whereby x has some 'disposition' d that p 'realizes' or x merely 'participates in' p generically dependent continuant x is available to at some time y means y is a Person or Group of Agents or Engineered system and y is the 'carrier of at some time' some Directive Information Content Entity i which is 'achieved by' at some time some Planned Process p whereby x is 'concretized by' p or x 'prescribes' p FOL: isAvailableToAtSomeTime (x, y) → ((IndependentContinuant(x) ∧¬SpatialRegion(x)) ∨ GenericallyDependentContinuant(x)) ∧ (Person(y) ∨ GroupOfAgents(y) ∨ EngineeredSystem(y)) ∧ ∃p,∃i (PlannedProcess(p) ∧ DirectiveInformationContentEntity(i) ∧ participatesInAtSomeTime(y, p) ∧ isAchievedByAtSomeTime(i,p) ∧ isCarrierOfAtSomeTime(y,i) ∧ (participatesInAtSomeTime(x, p) ∨ ∃d (Disposition(d) ∧ bearerOf(x, d) ∧ realizes(p, d)) ∨ concretizesAtSomeTime(p,x) ∨ prescribes(x,p)))

is input of
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: BFO_0000056
domain: BFO_0000002
range: BFO_0000015
adapted from: http://www.ontologyrepository.com/CommonCoreOntologies/Mid/ExtendedRelationOntology
elucidation: x is input of y iff x is an instance of Continuant and y is an instance of Process, such that the presence of x at the begining of y is a necessary condition for the start of y.

is output of
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: BFO_0000056
domain: BFO_0000002
range: BFO_0000015
adapted from: http://www.ontologyrepository.com/CommonCoreOntologies/Mid/ExtendedRelationOntology
elucidation: x is output of y iff x is an instance of Continuant and y is an instance of Process, such that the presence of x at the end of y is a necessary condition for the completion of y.

is specified output of
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: is output of
synonym: is intended output of

is subject of
type: ObjectProperty
domain: BFO_0000001
range: information content entity
adapted from: http://www.ontologyrepository.com/CommonCoreOntologies/Mid/InformationEntityOntology
elucidation: A primitive relationship between an instance of an Entity and an instance of an Information Content Entity.

observed by at some time
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: topObjectProperty
domain: BFO_0000001
range: agent
inverse of: observes at some time

observes at some time
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: topObjectProperty
comment: this property was not put under participates in at some time because the target of observation can be continuant or an occurent and in the case of an occurent an agent that observes the occurent might not participate in that occurent
comment: we are not sure if monitoring should be an alternate label or a subproperty of this
comment: we are not sure if we should constrain the domain of observes to occurent, because when we observe something we observe some changes
domain: agent
range: BFO_0000001
example: a scientist observing a chemical reaction in an experiment recognizes an explosion, an operator observes a machining process recognizes a defect in a part, a doctor observes a group of COVID patients and recognizes that majority of them have difficulty breathing
elucidation: b observes p at some time t holds when there is a 'process' o that an agent b 'participates in' at t1 and 'recognizes at some time' t2 an 'entity' e that is an attribute of p or an entity related to p

prescribed by
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: is subject of
domain: BFO_0000001
range: information content entity
inverse of: prescribes
adapted from: http://www.ontologyrepository.com/CommonCoreOntologies/Mid/InformationEntityOntology
elucidation: x prescribed by y iff y is an instance of Information Content Entity and x is an instance of 'entity', such that y serves as a rule or guide for x if x is an 'occurrent', or y serves as a model for x if x is a 'continuant'.

prescribes
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: is about
domain: information content entity
range: BFO_0000001
example: a blueprint serves as a model of some Artifact or Facility; a professional code of conduct serves as a set of rules to be followed while acting in a role within that profession; an Operations Plan serves as a guide for the tasks that need to be performed to achieve the Objectives of the Operation
adapted from: http://www.ontologyrepository.com/CommonCoreOntologies/Mid/InformationEntityOntology
elucidation: x prescribes y iff x is an instance of Information Content Entity and y is an instance of 'entity', such that x serves as a rule or guide for y if y an 'occurrent', or x serves as a model for y if y is a 'continuant'

process characteristic of
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: topObjectProperty
domain: process characteristic
range: BFO_0000015
elucidation: relation between a characteristic and the process it is a characteristic of

quality of
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: BFO_0000197
comment: A quality inheres in its bearer at all times for which the quality exists.
domain: BFO_0000019
range: BFO_0000004
example: this red color is a quality of this apple
adapted from: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/RO_0000080
elucidation: a relation between a quality and an independent continuant (the bearer), in which the quality specifically depends on the bearer for its existence

recognized by at some time
type: ObjectProperty
domain: BFO_0000001
range: agent
inverse of: recognizes at some time

recognizes at some time
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: topObjectProperty
comment: this property was not put under participates in at some time because the target of recognition can be continuant or an occurent and in the case of an occurent an agent that recognizes the occurent might not participate in that occurent
domain: agent
range: BFO_0000001
example: operator recognizes a failure event that results in information about the event such as the time of occurrence and the description about the failure, a quality control engineer recognizes a defect on a part that results in information about the defect such as the nature of the defect and the cause of the defect
elucidation: b recognizes p at some time t when there is a 'process' r that an agent b 'participates in' at t1 and r 'has output' some Descriptive Information Content Entity d at t2 >= t1 'about' 'entity' p FOL: recognizes(b,p) → Agent(b) ∧ Entity(p) ∧ ∃r,∃d (Process(r) ∧ DescriptiveInformationContentEntity(d) ∧ participatesInAtSomeTime(b,r) ∧ hasOutput(r,d) ∧ isAbout(d,p))

role of
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: BFO_0000197
comment: A role inheres in its bearer at all times for which the role exists, however the role need not be realized at all the times that the role exists.
domain: BFO_0000023
range: BFO_0000004
example: this investigator role is a role of this person
adapted from: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/RO_0000081
elucidation: a relation between a role and an independent continuant (the bearer), in which the role specifically depends on the bearer for its existence

satisfied by
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: topObjectProperty
domain: requirement specification
range: BFO_0000001
inverse of: satisfies

satisfies
type: ObjectProperty
domain: BFO_0000001
range: requirement specification
example: a piece of software satisfies a UML requirement specification, a design specification of a car satisfies its functional requirement specification
elucidation: x satisfies r holds when 'entity' x conforms to all 'continuant parts of' Requirement Specification r and r 'prescribes' x