World trends and prospects in manufacturing technology
by M.E. Merchant
International Journal of Vehicle Design (IJVD), Vol. 6, No. 2, 1985

Abstract: The overriding and all-encompassing world trend in manufacturing today is that toward computer-integrated manufacturing (CIM). This is primarily because of the long-term socioeconomic benefits which this technology promises to bring to manufacturing companies and nations which develop and implement it. Thus, understanding of the nature, benefits, societal implications, current trends and future prospects, and potential of CIM is the key to anticipating the nature of future development in manufacturing technology. These subjects are therefore the focus of this paper. Although pursuit of research, development, and implementation of CIM technology has not yet resulted in realization of full computer-integrated manufacturing anywhere in the world, nevertheless the industrialized nations and much of the world manufacturing industry are today pursuing a variety of programs having that as their goal. Of these, the integration of the production activities which take place on the factory floor - integration in the form of flexible manufacturing systems (FMS) - has proceeded further than that in any other sector of the overall system of manufacturing. The resulting performance benefits being demonstrated by such systems are most impressive and foreshadow the power and capability which full CIM can eventually bring to the future factory.

Online publication date: Sun, 25-May-2014

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