Modern information technology has opened up new possibilities of flexibilization and cost reduction in production. The author defines CIM - Computer Integrated Manufacturing - as a concept for the structuring of industrial enterprises. Manufacturing technologies demand a CIM concept which can be realized through the capabilities of information processing available today. The idea of integrating different areas of CIM, such as production planning and control (PPC), computer aided design (CAD) and computer aided manufacturing (CAM), is explained through operating chains and put into a CIM architecture based on a hierarchy of EDP systems. The stance taken in this book of defining CIM as a total concept for industrial enterprises is increasingly gaining ground. The book does not aim to put the functional details of the individual CIM components (PPC, CAD, CAP and CAM) in the foreground, but rather to emphasize the integration principles for the functional demands of the individual components. This book appeared in the Federal Republic of Germany in 1987, and within one year it had run to three editions. The author contributes to this book not only his scientific knowledge but also his experience as a consultant for implementing CIM concepts.

Presented in this book are some of the most relevant aspects of Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) in Japan. The volume compares the development of CIM in the context of Japan as well as that of Europe and the United States. It includes studies of the implemented CIM systems in many companies. In addition, the book contains a study concerning Intelligent Manufacturing Systems (IMS), and the basis for preparation of the so-called Future Generation of Manufacturing Systems (FGMS). This volume gives a better understanding of Japanese competitiveness using advanced technology. People coming from the manufacturing industry, managers, engineers, officials and researchers will find in this book a rich source of material for understanding the crucial elements in technology development, and its actual and future implementation.

Manufacturing has entered the early stages of a revolutionary period caused by the convergence of three powerful trends: • The rapid advancement and spread of manufacturing capabilities worldwide has created intense competition on a global scale. • The emergence of advanced manufacturing technologies is dramati cally changing both the products and processes of modern manufac turing. • Changes in traditional management and labor practices, organiza tional structures, and decision-making criteria represent new sources of competitiveness and introduce new strategic opportunities. These trends are interrelated and their effects are already being felt by the u.s. manufacturing community. Future competitiveness for manu facturers worldwide will depend on their response to these trends. Based on the recent performance of u.s. manufacturers, efforts to respond to the challenges posed by new competition, technology, and managerial opportunities have been slow and inadequate. Domestic markets that were once secure have been assailed by a growing number of foreign competitors producing high quality goods at low prices. In a number of areas, such as employment, capacity utilization, research and development expenditures, and capital investment, trends in u.s. manufacturing over the last decade have been unfavorable or have not kept pace with major foreign competitors, such as Japan. There is substantial evidence that many u.s. manufacturers have neglected the manufacturing function, have overemphasized product development at the expense of process improvements, and have not begun to make the adjustments that will be necessary to be competitive.

Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) is the computerized handling of integrated operational processes between production planning and control, design, process planning, production, and quality assurance. The consistent application of information technology, along with modern manufacturing techniques and new organizational procedures, opens up great potential for rationalization by speeding up processes, thereby reducing stocks and improving product structure and delivery times. Following a comprehensive justification of the CIM integration principle, this book discusses the current state of applications and new demands arising from the integration principle as applied to the individual CIM components. The interfaces between business and technical information processing are considered in detail. The main emphasis, however, is on strategies for realization and implementation based on concrete experi- ence. The "Y-CIM information management" model, developed and tested at the author's institute, is presented as a procedural method for implementing CIM and demonstrated using up-to-date examples. In addition to the procedure for developing a CIM strategy, concrete sub-projects are developed which are directed at specific sector or enterprise structures. The survey of further CIM developments including design stage cost estimation, use of expert systems and inter-company process chains have proved to be effective CIM components since the first edition of this book and are now treated in the main text. Six German and five American industrial implementations are presented to illustrate the diverse areas of emphasis in the implementation sequence, and to indicate how CIM can be realized with currently available data processing tools.

An overview of the CIM theory including a definition of its evolution over the years. It is intended to allow engineers and managers to implement the theory and to use it effectively. Divided into three sections.

In the 21st century, computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) systems will not only be the economic development tools but will also be the essential means of achieving a higher level of flexibility, cohesiveness and performance. CIM systems are beginning to settle into our society and industries, with greater emphasis on the integration of economic, cultural and social aspects together with design, planning, factory automation and artificial intelligent systems.This volume of proceedings brings together 10 keynote and invited speaker addresses, and over 180 papers by practitioners from 28 countries. It documents current research and in-depth studies on the fundamental aspects of advanced CIM systems and their practical applications. The papers fall into 3 main sections: CIM Related Issues; Industrial AI Applications Aspects; and Concurrent Engineering, Advanced Design, Simulation and Flexible Manufacturing Systems.

The papers in this volume reflect the current research and development of advanced manufacturing software. They may be categorized as follows: New Concepts towards CIM, Product Realization through Product/Process Modelling, Intelligent Management and Control of Manufacturing Activities, and Development of CIM Systems.

This up-to-date and accessible text deals with the basics of Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) and the many advances made in the field. It begins with a discussion on automation systems, and gives the historical background of many of the automation technologies. Then it moves on to describe the various techniques of automation such as group technology and flexible manufacturing systems. The text describes several production techniques, for example, just-in-time (JIT), lean manufacturing and agile manufacturing, besides explaining in detail database systems, machine functions, and design considerations of Numerical Control (NC) and Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines, and how the CIM system can be modelled. The book concludes with a discussion on the industrial application of artificial intelligence with the help of case studies, in addition to giving network application and signalling approaches. Intended primarily as a text for the undergraduate and graduate students of mechanical, production, and industrial engineering and management, the text should also prove useful for the professionals in the field.