Information Technology for Manufacturing

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