User-responsive interface generation for manufacturing systems: a theoretical basis

Computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) systems with a significant level of human-computer interaction are often inefficient. This is particularly pro blematical for those users who have to interact with multiple subsystem int erfaces. These difficulties can be traced back to the fact that representat ion of the user in existing manufacturing models and systems is inadequate. An approach that increases user representation to improve CIM interface de sign is proposed, in which stereotype-based user and task models are used t o specify a common user interface for each individual system user. An overv iew of the architecture is followed by discussion of an application domain (statistical process control) in which a demonstrator based on the architec ture has been tested.