Architecture for Computer-Integrated Manufacturing

Abstract

Delays, failures, and cost over-runs facing developers of computer-integrated manufacturing (CIM) systems may often be attributed to factors that are non-technological in nature. However, most of the techniques, models, and systems shown in the literature for CIM focus on technological factors. Engineers are reasonably well equipped to work with quantitative, cause-effect relationships, defining technological problems and finding solutions to such problems, but many interpersonal, political and management aspects of a totally integrated system are unresolved. There is little argument that CIM can provide dramatic improvements in quality and flexibility to meet changing market demands, with reductions in scrap, rework, and in-process inventory. The argument usually is how to best develop a team approach necessary to bring all players to a common level of understanding, share common values, and have supportive attitudes. In this paper technological and non-technological framework models are presented for developing a totally integrated system. These CIM framework models are being implemented and tested in a laboratory equipped with tabletop production equipment for rotational and prismatic parts making. Refined CIM architectural models will be developed for investigative simulation studies with tabletop production systems, and later as the basis for design and implementation of full-size industrial prototype productions systems.