Unified SDM: the ICAM approach to systems & software development

The development of integrated computer aided manu facturing systems demands the establishment of a life cycle structure within which standard manage ment and engineering techniques can be consistently applied. This paper addresses the problems of inte grated computer aided manufacturing system development. A life cycle is proposed which the Air Force ICAM Program is using for all subsystem development activities. The role of systems modeling in this process as a tool for communication and analysis is developed. Based upon a general mathematical definition of modeling, commercially available specification and design techniques are evaluated and the basic system properties which these models display or determine are identified. The IDEF modeling techniques are reviewed and requirements for additional techniques are discussed.