Functional Design of an Integrated CIM System at the Facility Level.

Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) is often understood as simply the integration of CAD and CAM. In fact it is much more than this. It is the systems approach of linking together the various automation tools available today, so as to enable the control of an entire manufacturing operation, as well as related business functions. Unlike most of the recent research in CIM, we are not addressing the integration of hardware and software on the shop floor. Instead, we consider that Manufacturing Resource Planning (MRP-II), has the best inherent features for the linking of the various high level manufacturing functions. In this wor^, integration centers around parts specifications, routings and the workcenters in the system. A model for this integration at the facility level, is presented along with the rules of interaction between the systems. The model is based on-the principle of database interoperability, and will use a formal language named 'Update Dependencies' for the implementation