Logistics from IMS towards virtual factory

This paper shows some aspects of the design and control in logistic systems of typical processes in traditional integrated systems, IMS and virtual fa ctories in the sheet metal industry. Main components of the virtual factory are logistics and the information technology background. By globalisation of production, factory inside logistics is replaced by a global logistic co ncept. In this paper those logistic concepts are summarised, which can be u sed in designing of material flow, optimising the parameters as well as in performance evaluation for closed loop production of sheet metal processing . The information flow, connected with the material flow, is also represent ed in the survey. Shared data structures and telecommunication are essentia l parts of the control strategy in logistic systems. (C) 2000 Elsevier Scie nce S.A. All rights reserved.