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Three major challenges of computer integrated manufacturing are defined in Wikipedia[2]:
- Integration of components from different suppliers: When different machines, such as CNC, conveyors and robots, are using different communication protocols (in the case of AGVs, even differing lengths of time for charging the batteries) may cause problems.
- Data integrity: The higher the degree of automation, the more critical is the integrity of the data used to control the machines (see Figure 3). While the CIM system saves on labor of operating the machines, it requires extra human labor in ensuring that there are proper safeguards for the data signals that are used to control the machines.
- Process control: Computers may be used to assist the human operators of the manufacturing facility, but there must always be a competent engineer on hand to handle circumstances which could not be foreseen by the designers of the control software.
Subsystems in computer-integrated manufacturing
A computer-integrated manufacturing system is not the same as a “lights-out-factory,” which would run completely independent of human intervention, although it is a big step in that direction. Part of the system involves flexible manufacturing, where the factory can be quickly modified to produce different products, or where the volume of products can be changed quickly with the aid of computers (as seen in Figure 4).
Figure 3: The CIM Hierarchy of related /critical systems according to Wikipedia[2].
Figure 4: The CIM hierarchy of related/critical systems.
CIM Architecture for Manufacturing
The CIM data architecture that will be covered in the next column on computer aided manufacturing (CAM) is seen in Figure 5. There are standards of computer interfacing and control available in industry. Some are designed specifically for automation and particularly for electronics manufacturing, fabrication and assembly.
Figure 5: The CIM software architecture for manufacturing.
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