| Abstract: | Processing of information and data in construction of equipment and plant . Computers are playing an everincreasing role in plant construction. Partly integrated programming solutions have meanwhile become available for many sectors of the engineering and commercial sides of plant design. The design and construction of larger plants, which because of the necessity to save on energy and raw material consumption and to conform with ecologically unobjectionable standards are becoming more and more complex, is virtually impossible without the aid of computers. And this development trend is still continuing. At present efforts are mainly directed at the use of computers in the preparation of engineering drawings and to the assembly of partly integrated processing steps of larger integrated complexes. Projects of this nature are often beyond the capabilities of individual firms and demand cooperative development. Apart from a few exceptions, electronic data processing has not been exploited in plant construction beyond the commercial side. Even NC machines are frequently not employed in plant construction, mainly because of the custom-built nature of the components. Essential rationalization even in this area poses the question of the extent to which a wider use of electronic data processing might be helpful. |
