Some research advances in computer graphics that will enhance applications to engineering design

Research in man/machine interactions and graphics hardware/software that will enhance applications to engineering design was described. Research aspects of executive systems, command languages, and networking used in the computer applications laboratory are mentioned. Finally, a few areas where little or no research is being done were identified

Computer-Aided Techniques as a Tool for the Integration of Industrial Processes

The main topics of this working paper are: (1) To roughly characterize the main processes of industrial systems by their essential features. (2) To point out the possibilities of rationalization of the main processes of industrial systems -- first of all by utilization of computers. (3) To sketch some methodological aspects of analysis and synthesis of industrial processes. (4) To recommend problems that could be investigated in IIASA in connection with the rationalization of Integrated Industrial Systems by utilization of computers. (5) To investigate the role of CAD techniques as a tool for the integration of industrial processes. The main objective of this working paper is to explain the problems and to fix the limits of the area to be discussed at the CAD conference at IIASA in November 1974. We shall not describe here state-of-the-art reports or solutions to the problems but will only point out the direction of possible research and various ideas which will be explained in some papers presented at the conference

Product Family Design Knowledge Representation, Aggregation, Reuse, and Analysis

A flexible information model for systematic development and deployment of product families during all phases of the product realization process is crucial for product-oriented organizations. In current practice, information captured while designing products in a family is often incomplete, unstructured, and is mostly proprietary in nature, making it difficult to index, search, refine, reuse, distribute, browse, aggregate, and analyze knowledge across heterogeneous organizational information systems. To this end, we propose a flexible knowledge management framework to capture, reorganize, and convert both linguistic and parametric product family design information into a unified network, which is called a networked bill of material (NBOM) using formal concept analysis (FCA); encode the NBOM as a cyclic, labeled graph using the Web Ontology Language (OWL) that designers can use to explore, search, and aggregate design information across different phases of product design as well as across multiple products in a product family; and analyze the set of products in a product family based on both linguistic and parametric information. As part of the knowledge management framework, a PostgreSQL database schema has been formulated to serve as a central design repository of product design knowledge, capable of housing the instances of the NBOM. Ontologies encoding the NBOM are utilized as a metalayer in the database schema to connect the design artifacts as part of a graph structure. Representing product families by preconceived common ontologies shows promise in promoting component sharing, and assisting designers search, explore, and analyze linguistic and parametric product family design information. An example involving a family of seven one-time-use cameras with different functions that satisfy a variety of customer needs is presented to demonstrate the implementation of the proposed framework

Engineering and Scientific Data Management

The application of data management systems to engineering and scientific data is described

Modelling, analysis and design of computer integrated manufacturing systems.

In the present climate of global competition, manufacturing organisations consider and seek strategies, means and tools to assist them to stay competitive. Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) offers a number of potential opportunities for improving manufacturing systems. However, a number of researchers have reported the difficulties which arise during the analysis, design and implementation of CIM due to a lack of effective modelling methodologies and techniques and the complexity of the systems. The work reported in this thesis is related to the development of an integrated modelling method to support the analysis and design of advanced manufacturing systems. A survey of various modelling methods and techniques is carried out. The methods SSADM, IDEFO, IDEF1X, IDEF3, IDEF4, OOM, SADT, GRAI, PN, 10A MERISE, GIM and SIMULATION are reviewed. The majorities of these contain graphical components and therefore, fulfil basic modelling requirements. In addition, these methods represent a comprehensive sample of manufacturing systems modelling methods. A manufacturing system comprises different sub-systems including physical, information and decisions sub-systems. These sub-systems can be modelled using a combination of the methods described i.e. GRAI for decision systems, IDEFO for physical systems, simulation for dynamic aspects, etc. A novel framework for comparing the modelling methods selected is developed using a number of factors derived from CIM and modelling requirements. The study discovered that no single modelling method or technique could model all the different aspects of a manufacturing system or achieve integration between system domains at both static and dynamic levels. As a result, it was concluded that there was a need for an integrated modelling method for the analysis and design of complex manufacturing systems. To overcome these problems, a novel integrated modelling method called GI-SIM has been developed. The method is composed of four modelling components GRAI grid, IDEFO, IDEF1X and SIMAN/ARENA. GI-SIM integrates these four tools to form a complete method, which combines the advantages of existing modelling methods and eliminates their shortcomings. The method developed is evaluated using a case study carried out in a UK company manufacturing electric motors. It is also tested for the design and specification of CIM system components (CAD, CAPP, CAM, etc.). The case studies demonstrate that GISIM achieves two important types of modelling integration; the first is a vertical integration between different levels of abstraction (conceptual, structural and dynamic) and the second is a horizontal integration between five modelling domains (decision, functional, information, physical and dynamic). In addition, the method is easy to learn and use, and sufficiently flexible to model any system function according to its related objectives. The findings of this research and recommendation for future research are presented in the final chapter

Integrated Systems Control in the Steel Industry. State-of-the-Art Review and Proceedings of the Conference June 30-July 2, 1975

Integrated systems control has as its goal the integration of the information processing, decision-making and control functions of an industrial system to achieve increased operating efficiency and productivity, better utilization of resources, improved product quality and other benefits. As the steel industry is well advanced, relative to other industries, in the application of highly computerized systems integration, it was selected as the basis for a first case study. The Review presents both the results of a state-of-the-art survey of integrated systems control in the steel industry and the proceedings of a IIASA conference on the subject. The results motivate a general methodology for integrated control system design based on a hierarchical structuring of the system, incorporating multilevel decomposition and temporal and functional multilayer concepts