A unified approach towards CIM justification

Justification of Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) or Advanced Manufacturing Technologies (AMTs) lacks a proper methodology. This has been a big drawback for manufacturing managers in justifying investment in and implementation of CIM/AMTs. To overcome this dilemma, an effective multiple-attribute decision methodology with sufficient guidance is proposed. This methodology is incorporated in a Decision Support System (DSS). The DSS developed in this research has been named the Decision Support System for CIM (DSSCIM). This DSSCIM consists of the following modules: an analytic hierarchy process for the consideration of multiple attributes which are inherent in CIM/AMT investment analysis; a weighted scoring module; quantification of costs and benefits by assigning weights to intangibles and indirect attributes; cost-impact analysis to investigate the effect of investment; a matrix module to investigate synergy among technologies and an optimisation module. The DSSCIM will enable the decision maker to analyse various scenarios at different levels of input. By utilising this DSSCIM it is expected that managers will gain sufficient confidence for the justification of CIM/AMTs.     

An Infrastructure for Integrated Automation System Implementation

Evolution of advanced manufacturing technologies and the new manufacturing paradigm has enriched the computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) methodology. The new advances have put more demands for CIM integration technology and associated supporting tools. One of these demands is to provide CIM systems with better software architecture, more flexible integration mechanisms, and powerful support platforms. In this paper, we present an integrating infrastructure for CIM implementation in manufacturing enterprises to form an integrated automation system. A research prototype of an integrating infrastructure has been developed for the development, integration, and operation of integrated CIM system. It is based on the client/server structure and employs object-oriented and agent technology. System openness, scalability, and maintenance are ensured by conforming to international standards and by using effective system design software and management tools.     

The Strategic Issues in Implementation of CIM Technology in PRC/HK Enterprises

Since the 1980s, CIM concepts and technologies have been applied by many manufacturing enterprises to remain competitive in the keen market environment. Faced with so many new technologies, entrepreneurs of PRC/HK enterprises sometimes feel ill at ease and even bewildered, although the PRC government has been supporting a number of CIM development initiatives since 1986. This paper sketches the development trends of modern manufacturing technologies and their applications in PRC/HK industries. The findings are based on a series of survey visits carried out in PRC/HK. The implementation strategies and methodologies appropriate for manufacturing automation and computerisation are put forward, taking into account the opportunities and challenges faced by these PRC/HK enterprises.     

面向产品型中小企业的CIMS体系结构与实施思路探讨

随着我国改革开放的发展,市场经济的脚步越来越快,而在这竞争激烈的市场中,面向产品型中小企业的生存挑战将变得非常巨大。文章主要对面向产品型中小企业的瓶颈生存问题进行了分析,并通过CISE体系结构提出了一种具有信息管理系统的实施方法以及集成框架,其中,实施方法以及集成框架主要有自动化系统制造实施方法和集成接口方法等,集成框架有CAE、CAD、CAM和CAPP。     

制造业信息技术应用之间的协同效应分析方法

应用信息技术是企业提高其竞争能力的重要手段之一。企业实施的各种信息技术应用通过信息集成组成企业的信息技术应用组合系统 ,各子系统相互配合而产生协同效应 ,使得系统总体功能可以大于各子系统功能之和。协同效应分析对于信息技术应用的可行性分析和企业信息技术应用水平的正确评价具有重要意义。本文给出的协同效应分析方法以计算机排样为例 ,首先通过信息技术应用的功能原理分析绘制待考察的应用与其它各种信息技术应用之间的数据流表 ,然后根据信息流表对协同系数进行估计 ,根据协同系数计算该信息技术的权数。最后说明了协同效应分析方法的应用价值。     

Intelligent Data Acquisition Technology Based on Agents

Nowadays, information is the most important factor for any manufacturing enterprise. Information helps a manufacturer to make decisions about management, production, operation, maintenance, and repair. Information technology is a key for enterprises who are realising integrated manufacturing all over the world. Data acquisition is the backbone of information technology. Data acquisition technology is the product of the fusion and interaction of many technologies. It is necessary to develop new data acquisition technology and methods by using the recently produced research results. It is also important for realising manufacturing automation, promoting product quality, and enhancing the competitive ability of an enterprise. In this paper, we first analyse three common kinds of data acquisition mode and their features used in manufacturing systems. Then, based on the background of manufacturing automation, agents and distributed artificial intelligent technology, which form a new data acquisition model framework suitable for an advanced manufacturing system, is proposed, and some details about this new model are discussed. Two examples of this model used in manufacturing systems are then given to show the availability and correctness of this model framework. We conclude with current research results in this area and give an outline of future work.     

Design of integrated manufacturing planning, scheduling and control systems: a new framework for automation

The automation and integration of manufacturing planning, scheduling and control functions have, for a long while, been targeted in computer-integrated manufacturing (CIM) and artificial intelligence (AI) approaches. Current systems, however, are human-based and they can only be characterised as decision support systems (DSS) rather than automated systems. Global competition and the need for improved responsiveness, particularly in low-volume, high-variety manufacturing industries, necessitate further integration and automation in planning, scheduling and control functions. We consider that, to achieve automation, the concepts and techniques from operations research (OR), control theory (CT), and computer science (CS) should be integrated, enriched and unified to provide a platform for automation. This paper presents a fresh perspective for understanding the design issues involved and proposes a new framework for the automation and integration of planning, scheduling and control functions. A fully automated flow shop production system is presented to illustrate the applicability of the new framework.     

电子商务与企业信息系统集成研究

在分析了目前我国制造企业的集成化信息系统不足的基础上，提出了企业以建立电子商务系统为契机， 实现企业电子商务系统与内部集成化信息系统和伙伴企业之间的纵向信息集成，最终形成开放式的集成化信息系统和企业的集成化供应链管理模式， 提高企业的信息自动化水平和企业间的协同运作能力。     

在车身开发中应用CIMS技术

ＣＩＭ是企业面对市场竞争的发展战略，目前还没有一个普遍接受的解决方案。在东风汽车公司ＣＩＭＳ应用工程中采用了分步实施的策略，首先在车身开发一民覆盖件模具设计与制造中应用ＣＡＤ／ＣＡＰＰ／ＣＡＭ集成系统。广西分析了应用集成系统的必要性。讨论了系统集成方案，系统的结构和物理实现。     

Evaluation of CIM technologies in Saudi industries using AHP

Successful implementation of computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) technologies offers manufacturing organizations numerous benefits (both tangible and intangible). The evaluation and selection process of these technologies is a very complex task due to the many parameters involved that should be taken into consideration during the selection process. In this research, a number of Saudi industries were surveyed to evaluate their current CIM technologies. Future plans regarding the implementation of such technologies are also investigated. This research also presents a decision support system (DSS) for the evolution and selection of CIM technologies, taking into consideration the requirements of manufacturing industries. This is done to ensure that the selected technologies comply with the objectives of these companies. Depending on the emerged results, a multi-attribute decision-making approach (analytical hierarchy process - AHP) is used. A computerized tool CIMAHP (selection of CIM technologies using AHP) is developed to simplify the application of the suggested DSS. Developed tools are tested and demonstrated using a real case study.     

计算机集成制造技术在陶瓷业的应用

陶瓷产品计算机集成制造技术对提高陶瓷企业的产品开发能力,制造能力、管理水平,以及改造传统产业均有重要的意义和作用。针对产品制造过程中的特点,建立了一种陶瓷产品计算机集成制造系统的体系结构,开发了陶瓷企业管理信息系统的集成技术、陶瓷产品的计算机辅助全过程设计的集成技术、陶瓷产品模具制造过程的数字化技术、陶瓷虚拟产品技术和陶瓷产品逆向工程技术等关键技术。并以重庆兆瓷有限公司为应用企业,实施了我国陶瓷行业第一个CIMS应用示范工程。     

面向产品型中小企业的CIMS体系结构与实施

分析了传统产品型中小企业中存在的瓶颈问题，提出一种面向产品型中小企业的CIMS体系结构，研究了其中管理信息系统的集成框架与实施方法、CAD/CAPP/CAM/CAE系统的集成框架，以及该框架与管理信息系统的集成接口方案、制造自动化系统的实施方法等关键技术。作为应用示范，在较低投入的前提下，在较短时间内，完成了一家中小型纺机企业CIMS的实施，并取得了显著效果。实践证明，该CIMS体系结构具有简单、实用、成本低、实施周期短、见效快和易推广等特点。     

航天器现代集成制造系统研究

介绍了已研究成功的航天器现代集成制造系统（一期）所建立的产品进行设计、制造与管理集成环境,以及所涉及的以团队工作为特征的项目管理模式、过程重组、企业集成框架、领域集成、CAD／CAM／ERP应用支撑工具间数据的集成、工艺优化等关键技术,简要阐述了二期航天顺集成制造系统的概况。     

Holonic modelling

Presents a method for the design of computer integrated manufacturing systems, based on an innovative systems architecture to support a holistic approach. The system should demonstrate high visibility of customer need and focus on satisfying that need. A manufacturing enterprise can be considered as a set of goal-seeking subsystems, which interact in purposeful way to meet customer demand. The holonic paradigm uses the most successful systems known, i.e. biological systems, as the metaphor for designing computer systems. Biological systems consist of many cooperating autonomous subsystems working towards the ultimate goal of survival-not unlike the manufacturing enterprise. A manufacturing enterprise and its CIM system can be considered as a network of semi-autonomous subsystems, which communicate with each other to pass on instructions or pass back information. Each of these subsystems is working to satisfy the supply=demand equation     

Organization of Electric-Vehicle Production by Means of an Automated Control System

Prospects for the development of electric vehicles are considered. Recommendations are made regarding the organization of production by means of up-to-date control and information technologies. To ensure that a manufacturing enterprise remains flexible and competitive in an era of rapidly changing customer requirements, an appropriate information module must be developed and integrated with the enterprise’s information system.     

Modelling and Simulation of Integrated Operations and Information Systems in Manufacturing

This paper presents a novel method to determine the relative impact on logical interactions and interrelationships between operations and information systems within a manufacturing environment by formulating an integrated model, in which both operational function and information processing function are modelled and simulated to predict system behaviour and to obtain an optimal solution that maximises system performances. To achieve this, modelling and simulation of a flexible printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) system has been implemented. The research has shown that applying this approach is valuable for analysing a wide range of manufacturing systems (CIM, FMS, dynamic process control systems, etc.).     

An exploration of simultaneous engineering for manufacturing enterprises

With the increasing application of high technology in manufacturing enterprises, the traditional serial or sequential production approach has begun to be replaced by a parallel or simultaneous production approach. The functional balance of organisations of current manufacturing enterprises is decline. The organisation within manufacturing enterprises needs to be restructured and the functions need to be adjusted. Many production functions within an enterprise can be integrated by following the production information. This is the premise of this exploration of simultaneous engineering in manufacturing enterprises. A functional model of an enterprise is described in this paper. Some possibilities of functional integration within an enterprise are discussed. Finally, some related research activities are outlined to stimulate an open discussion on the point of view.     

敏捷制造策略原理及关键技术

本文研究了敏捷制造策略的基本原理和关键技术。敏捷制造策略被认为是全面提高企业竞争能力的２１世纪的制造策略，敏捷制造策略是在ＣＩＭＳ和并行工程的基础上，更大范围内企业之间的集成。其研究与发展对未来的企业文化、先进制造技术和世界市场竞争格局变化将具有主导作用。     

Sensor interfaces for intelligent measurement

Varied changes in manufacturing methods and the increasing degree of automation have recently been the dominant factor in the demands imposed upon manufacturing integrated measurement techniques. For this special area, decentrally structured measuring systems with distributed intelligence and sensor functions can be used over an increasingly wide range of applications.For basic sensors to measure physical quantities as force, pressure, temperature, length, etc, a modular sensor system with an integrated microprocessor for signal converting and processing, as well as for building up standard interfaces at the output side, will be described.There are interface problems specific to the application of simple digitised standard measurement devices to microprocessors or personal computers. For this problem a logical interface shall be described in which all data have a fixed format and freely programmable contents.Finally, a system concept shall show how measurement technique is to include in computer-integrated manufacturing systems (CIM).