CIM software and interfaces

Abstract This paper surveys, the current research and industrial status of CIM software and interfaces between manufacturing functions, including design for manufacture, CAPP, FMS, FMC, scheduling and production control and tool management. Most of the interfaces discussed in the paper have been implemented in some form in some companies or Universities, but progress has been inhibited by the lack of generally accepted standard software and interfaces, due to a lack of consensus of how these are to be achieved. Automatic feature recognition and on-line real-time flexible part programming and scheduling are key areas requiring further development.