Information Technology for Manufacturing

Presents a vision of manufacturing in the twenty-first century that maximizes efficiencies and improvements by exploiting the power of information and provides a research agenda for information technology and manufacturing that is necessary for success in achieving such a vision. This book also includes a chapter on nontechnical research issues.

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This book describes a vision of manufacturing in the twenty-first century that maximizes efficiencies and improvements by exploiting the full power of information and provides a research agenda for information technology and manufacturing that is necessary for success in achieving such a vision. Research on information technology to support product and process design, shop-floor operations, and flexible manufacturing is described. Roles for virtual manufacturing and the information infrastructure are also addressed. A final chapter is devoted to nontechnical research issues.

Table of Contents


Front Matter
Executive Summary
1 Vision and Recommended Areas of Research
2 Manufacturing: Context, Content, and History
3 Integrated Product and Process Design
4 Shop Floor Production
5 Modeling and Simulation For the Virtual Factory
6 Information Infrastructure Issues
7 Organizational and Societal Infrastructure
Bibliography
Appendix A List of Contributors
Appendix B Site Visit to Romeo Engine Plant, March 23, 1994
Appendix C Illustrative Advanced Long-range Technology Demostrations