Computer aided and integrated manufacturing systems

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would first like to express my gratitude for my research supervisor, colleagues, peers and family whose immense and constant support has been a source of continuous guidance and inspiration.

DECLARATION

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTii

DECLARATIONiii

Background of the Study1

Problem Statement2

Research Aim and Objectives4

Methodology5

Distributed Process Planning6

CAD Data Interpreter6

Data Base Manager6

Summary7

Resources / Restraints / Limitations8

Research Beneficiaries / Dissemination9

Research Program10

REFERENCES11

APPENDIX15

Computer aided and integrated manufacturing systems

Background of the Study

CIM is a concept of integrating islands of automation involved in manufacturing systems into a computer-assisted distributed processing and control system. In the real world of modern CIM environments, data is the critical resource. Huge amounts of data, such as part design specifications, process planning, production capabilities, production parameters and requirements, shop environment, etc., must be processed. An analysis of these production activities reveals a variety of information processing requirements that vary in processing complexity, local storage, interface type and response characteristics. In other words, a simplified CIM model is composed of information links, physical links, and decision links necessary to control the whole manufacturing enterprise. To achieve the best performance of the CIM system, a control mechanism for a manufacturing system considering and utilizing all these links is crucial. The relationships among these pieces of information are very complex (Fan, 2005, p.890).

However, due to the special information processing requirements of modern production industries, conventional database systems are too limited to be used in CIM systems. Currently, most manufacturing industries are information-intensive. Recently, an important extension in computer use for information processing in computer-based manufacturing systems has emphasized knowledge processing problems. This extension involves a shift of focus from database systems, where simple factual data is stored for easy information retrieval, to use of computer systems to process so-called "prepositional information" or knowledge in order to simulate the intelligent activities of a highly trained human expert (Berry, 2010, p. 156). A number of systems, which are referred to as Knowledge-Based Systems (KBS) or Expert Systems (ES), are of this type. KBS or ES makes heavy use of artificial intelligence techniques and has expanded the great potential in computer-based manufacturing applications. Therefore, the next challenge will be to convert massive amounts of information into useful knowledge and to utilize this knowledge effectively to make better decisions for management.

CIM functionality integration involves the integration of three major functional blocks of CIM:

Computer-Aided Design (CAD),

Computer-Aided Process Planning (CAPP) and

Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM).

Recently, research has emphasized on the issue of integration of design, planning and production to achieve CIM. One of the prerequisites for integrated manufacturing systems is automated process planning. Without an effective design-planning communication, a genuine integrated manufacturing system can hardly become a reality. To improve this situation, CAPP, as part of a ...