A functional approach to designing architectures for CIM

The authors discuss a collection of mathematical models of various decisions that affect the design and implementation of a CIM (computer-integrated manufacturing) system. Objectives, constraints, decisions, and control strategies inherent in every CIM system are included. The models can be used to guide the development of the technology needed for automation. They also provide the inputs, outputs, and interrelations needed for integration, regardless of the specific CIM architecture used.<
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