Design and Development of an Architecture for Computer-Integrated Manufacturing in the Apparel Industry

Abstract

To be successful and competitive and achieve excellence in manufacturing, the textile/apparel industry must successfully use the most advanced concepts and meth ods, including computer-integrated manufacturing (CIM). Successful implementation of CIM requires a fundamental analysis of the three major facets of the apparel en terprise : function, information, and dynamics. We discuss the concept of an architecture for apparel manufacturing, which will serve as the blueprint for implementing CIM. We present the various methodologies for developing the architecture, as well as a detailed disc on of the U.S. Air Force's integrated computer-aided manufacturing definition (IDEF). We also propose specific criteria for evaluating methodologies and software for developing the architecture.