Implementing a model-based generic user interface for computer integrated manufacturing systems

Computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) systems are complex in terms of per forming a variety of activities, maintaining a range of information and inv olving various classes of users with differing levels of knowledge and skil ls, and different levels and time spans of decision making. Much investment and effort has been made to formalize and automate the performance of the CIM elements in a manufacturing system. However, each CIM subsystem will ty pically have its own terminology, procedures and presentation formats. This places a heavy and unnecessary burden on users, resulting in frustration a nd reduced effectiveness. Research has been carried out by the Manufacturing Systems Integration Rese arch Institute at Loughborough University towards the generation of a user- oriented interface for CIM systems. This research has resulted in a concept ual approach, which incorporates a generic user-task model, which enables t he generation of flexible and reusable software components to form a semige neric user interface for CIM users. The CIM user interface provides present ation tools to monitor and control the performance of the CIM elements. Advanced modelling and integration technologies have been deployed to enabl e the system to cover a wide area of manufacturing domains. These technolog ies include modern manufacturing modelling architectures such as CIMOSA and GERAM, and advanced communication techniques such as those used by Web-bas ed software applications in manufacturing environments. The implementation issues of the generic user interface concept, together w ith its application within an industrial case study are discussed in this p aper.