T. Beaumariage et al., REPRESENTATION OF MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS IN TERMS OF ENTITIES AND RELATIONSHIPS, International journal of computer integrated manufacturing, 8(1), 1995, pp. 43-53
Citations number
40
Categorie Soggetti
Computer Sciences","Computer Science Interdisciplinary Applications","Engineering, Manufacturing","Operatione Research & Management Science
Implementation of computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) has become a
major objective of many companies. Complex technologies with stringen
t control requirements are an integral part of today's manufacturing e
nvironment. With movement towards reduced life cycles and just-in-time
operation to reduce costs, the inherent rigidity of cell control syst
ems is a major roadblock in their implementation. To achieve configura
bility economically, a consistent software representation of manufactu
ring entities is required. It is necessary to insulate generic control
functions from the wide variations found in low-level devices. System
information must be organized in a standard format allowing other ent
ities to understand and use the information effectively. Virtual manuf
acturing entities (VME) are intended to address problems faced in manu
facturing integration. A VME is defined as an abstraction of a specifi
c set of resources and functions possessed by a physical device. VMEs
are a standardized representation masking the proprietary nature of re
al manufacturing entities from other software modules in a control env
ironment. They can be used as a loose coupling mechanism in constructi
ng integrated control systems. Their design and implementation is guid
ed by the physical structure of real manufacturing entities, simplifyi
ng these tasks for software developers and bridging the gap between de
velopers and users.