Title

A database approach towards flexible manufacturing: A conceptual framework

Abstract

A conceptual framework for flexible manufacturing called flexible automation architecture (FAA), in a computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) environment is proposed. The framework is based on the three-level database architecture for designing database systems. FAA partitions the manufacturing environment into database analogous logical levels of product requirements (external view), logical shops (conceptual view) and machine shops (internal view). The flexibility in FAA is achieved not by the traditional structuring of machines on the shop floor, but rather through a series of logical processes in the logical shop level. Each logical process is a generic (abstracted) process catering to multiple product processes at the product requirements level, and manufactured by a stable group of machines at the machine shop level. The framework is illustrated with a manufacturing case and a discussion of information system support in the form of expert systems.

Department(s)

Information Technology and Cybersecurity

Document Type

Article

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1016/0360-8352(93)90002-F

Publication Date

1-1-1993

Journal Title

Computers and Industrial Engineering

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