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Full control and management of information flow in an automated factory has not yet been achieved, mainly because of the data inconsistencies and lack of established functional relationships among different manufacturing application systems. Research toward CIM has concentrated on the computerization of individual functions of manufacturing, such as computer aided design and shop floor control, and the integration of data relations, such as global database frameworks and distributed database management systems. A much needed mechanism to manage and control the information flow among all of the manufacturing application systems based on company-specific and company-wide policies and procedures, is proposed here. The goal is to achieve a fully integrated manufacturing management system. The INformation system for Integrated Manufacturing (INSIM) reflects a design methodology to build a knowledge base to serve as the information control mechanism. The methodology includes the collection of rules (knowledge acquisition), their graphical modeling, systematic model validation and automated implementation to an operating production system. This design methodology features an enhanced graphic modeling tool - Updated Petri Nets (UPN) - which is capable of modeling database updates and retrievals, under specific constraints and conditions and uses a hierarchical modeling approach. Finally, a prototype knowledge based system written in Update Dependencies Language (UDL) - a special rule specification language - was implemented as a result of direct and automatic translation of UPN.

Full control and management of information flow in an automated factory has not yet been achieved, mainly because of the data inconsistencies and lack of established functional relationships among different manufacturing application systems. Research toward CIM has concentrated on the computerization of individual functions of manufacturing, such as computer aided design and shop floor control, and the integration of data relations, such as global database frameworks and distributed database management systems. A much needed mechanism to manage and control the information flow among all of the manufacturing application systems based on company-specific and company-wide policies and procedures, is proposed here. The goal is to achieve a fully integrated manufacturing management system. The INformation system for Integrated Manufacturing (INSIM) reflects a design methodology to build a knowledge base to serve as the information control mechanism. The methodology includes the collection of rules (knowledge acquisition), their graphical modeling, systematic model validation and automated implementation to an operating production system. This design methodology features an enhanced graphic modeling tool - Updated Petri Nets (UPN) - which is capable of modeling database updates and retrievals, under specific constraints and conditions and uses a hierarchical modeling approach. Finally, a prototype knowledge based system written in Update Dependencies Language (UDL) - a special rule specification language - was implemented as a result of direct and automatic translation of UPN.

A mechanism with the potential to control the information flow among all of the manufacturing application systems, in order to streamline factory activities, based on company-specific and company-wide policies and procedures is proposed here. The goal is to achieve a fully integrated manufacturing management system. The INformation Systems for Integrated Manufacturing (INSIM) reflects a design methodology to build a knowledge base to serve as the control mechanism.

This paper focuses on the development of a methodology within a software environment for automating the rule based implementation of specifications of integrated manufacturing information systems. The specifications are initially formulated in a natural language and subsequently representted in terms of a graphical representation by the system designer. A new graphical representation tool is based on Updated Petri Nets (UPN) which we have developed as a specialized version of Colored Petri Nets (CPN). The rule based implementation approach utilize the similarity of features between UPN and the general rule specification language used in the implementation. The automation of the translation of UPN to the rule specification language reduces considerably the life cycle for design and implementation of the system. The application presented here deals with the control and management of information flow between Computer Aided Design, Process Planning, Manufacturing Resource Planning and Shop Floor Control databases. This provides an integrated information framework for Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) systems.Index Terms - Rule base, information system, computer integrated manufacturing, system modeling, knowledge verification, Petri nets, rule specification language, reasoning, language translation.

This paper is devoted to the behavior, evaluation and management of non-cyclic discrete systems in general and manufacturing systems in particular. We introduce a special type of Petri nets called CFIOs (Conflict-Free nets with Input and Output transitions). It is shown that CFIOs are live, reversible if consistent, and can be kept bounded under certain conditions. We also develop reduction rules which facilitate the computation of the t-invariants of CFIOs. We then take advantage of the qualitative properties of CFIOs to perform planning in manufacturing systems. Numerical examples illustrate these approaches

A graphical representation schema - Updated Petri Nets (UPN) - has been developed to model rule based company policy specifications, in the context of computer integrated manufacturing systems. UPN facilitates the modeling of relationships between operations of various related application systems and the database updates and retrievals among various CIM databases. Based on this representation, a hierarchical modeling technique which includes refining and aggregating rules has also been developed. Application of the UPN is demonstrated in designing rule based systems for controlling and integrating the information between manufacturing applications, including Computer Aided Design, Computer Aided Process Planning, Manufacturing Resources Planning, and Shop Floor Control.

Full control and management of information flow in manufacturing has not yet been achieved, mainly because of the data inconsistencies and lack of established functional relationships among different manufacturing application systems. Research toward CIM has been concentrating on the computerization of individual functions, such as computer aided design and shop floor control, and the integration of data relations, such as global database frameworks and distributed database management systems. A mechanism to control the information flow among all of the manufacturing application systems, in order to streamline factory activities based on company-specific and company-wide policies and procedures is proposed here. The goal is to achieve a fully integrated manufacturing management system. The INformation Systems for Integrated Manufacturing (INSIM) reflects a design methodology to build a knowledge base to serve as the control mechanism. This design methodology features an enhanced graphic modeling tool - Updated Petri Nets (UPN) - which is capable of modeling database updates and retrievals, under specific constraints and conditions, and uses a hierarchical modeling approach. Finally, a prototype rule based system, using the INSIM methodology, is being implemented. It assimilates the functionality and assertains the control of information flow between Computer Aided Design, Process Planning, Manufacturing Resource Planning and Shop Floor Control.

Full control and management of information flow has not yet been achieved, mainly because of the data inconsistencies and lack of established functional relationships among different manufacturing application systems. Research toward CIM has been concentrating on the computerization of individual functions of manufacturing, such as computer aided design and shop floor control, and the integration of data relations, such as global database frameworks and distributed database management systems. A mechanism to control the information flow among all of the manufacturing manufacturing application systems, in order to streamline factory activities based on company-specific and company-wide policies and procedures is proposed here. The goal is to achieve a fully integrated manufacturing management system. The INformation Systems for Integrated Manufacturing (INSIM) reflects a design methodology to build a knowledge base to serve as the control mechanism. The methodology includes knowledge acquisition, graphical modeling, systematic validation and automated implementation. This design methodology features an enhanced graphic modeling tool - Updated Petri Nets (UPN) - which is capable of modeling database updates and retrievals, under specific constraints and conditions and uses a hierarchical modeling approach. Finally, a software package based on the INSIM methodology was developed and a prototype rule based system in Update Dependencies language - a special rule specification language - is being implemented. It assimilates the functionality of information flow between Computer Aided Design, Process Planning, Manufacturing Resource Planning and Shop Floor Control.

There is critical need for establishing CIM at the factory level, to complement the research done in manufacturing integration, which has concentrated so far on flexible manufacturing cells, robotics and other fabrication and material handling devicea This paper identifies the application modules that clearly lend themselves to an integrated information flow in a controlled manner computer aided design and computer aided process planning constitute the product and process design centers of the proposed system respectively. Manufacturing resource planning undertakes the management of production plans to satisfy the market demand. The functional design of the system was derived from expertix in manufacturing management. The modeling and analysis are formalized with the ux of generalized Petri-Nets. The implementation strategy recognizes the existence of application tools whox characteristics must be retained and subjected to synergism. Hence, a prolog-based database interoperability language enabled us to construct the knowledge-base that controls the system. Extensions of this work include the incorporation of a shop floor control module, to interface with the factory level.

There is a critical need for establishing CIM at the factory level, to complement the research done in manufacturing integration, which has concentrated so far on flexible manufacturing cells, robotics and other fabrication and material handling devices. This paper identifies the application modules that clearly lend themselves to an integrated information flow in a controlled manner: Computer aided design and computer aided process planning constitute the product and process design centers of the proposed system respectively. Manufacturing resource planning undertakes the management of production plans to satisfy the market demand. The functional design of the system was derived from expertise in manufacturing management. The modeling and analysis are formalized with the use of generalized Petri-Nets. The implementation strategy recognizes the existence of application tools whose characteristics must be retained and subjected to synergism. Hence, a prolog-based database interoperability language enabled us to construct the knowledge- base that controls the system. Extensions of this work include the incorporation of a shop floor control module, to interface with the factory level.

The objective of Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) is to develop a coherent database management system capable of controlling an entire manufacturing operation through the integration of manufacturing, design, and business functions. To begin this approach, an initial nucleus, which will be gradually expanded, by allowing interaction between it and other systems' databases, is needed. Manufacturing Resource Planning (MRP II) has the best position to serve as this nucleus, and the first suggested system for integration is Computer Aided Design (CAD). The integration between these two systems is centered around part specification, product structure, and engineering changes. A model of the CAD/MAP II integrated system, detailing the logical interaction between the systems in the fields of part specification maintenance, product structure data maintenance, and engineering changes, is currently being developed. A knowledge based multi-database interoperability system, which uses a formal language called "Update Dependencies" based on an AI production system, has been developed, and tested against the major part of the model design specification. The syntax and semantics of the Update Dependencies language are introduced as well as the description of the system model. Several results are illustrated in the demonstration session and a discussion of our experience so far is also presented here. Finally, the next steps of our implementation strategy are outlined.

To build an interface between product design and manufacturing execution modules is the first phase to achieving Computer Integrated Manufacturing for the factory of the future. A model of the Computer Aided Design (CAD)/Manufacturing Resource Planning (MRP II) integrated system, detailing the logical interaction between the systems in the areas of part specification maintenance, product structure data maintenance, and engineering changes, has been developed. An expert system based on multi-database interoperability, which uses a formal language, called "Update Dependencies", based on an AI production system, is being developed, and has been tested against the major part of the model design specification.

There is a critical need for establishing CIM at the facility level, to complement the research done in manufacturing integration, which has concentrated so far on flexible manufacturing cells, robotics and other material handling devices. This paper identifies the application modules that clearly lend themselves to an integrated information flow in a controlled manner: Computer aided design and computer aided process planning consist the product and process design centers of the proposed system respectively. Manufacturing resource planning undertakes the management of production plans to satisfy the market demand. The functional design of the system is derived from expertise in manufacturing management. The modeling and analysis are now formalized with the use of generalized Petri- Nets. The implementation strategy recognizes the existence of application tools that must be retained and subjected to synergism. Hence, a database interoperability language is in its final development stage, to enable the construction of the knowledge-base that will control the system. Extensions of this work include the incorporation of a shop floor control-module, to interface with the factory level.