Interface concepts for plug-compatible production management systems

Abstract Currently, the integration of production management systems that have been built by different vendors is either costly and time-consuming or virtually impossible. If factory integration costs are to be reduced, it is essential that these systems be made plug-compatible. This paper assesses current factors that lead to incompatibility between manufacturing systems built by different systems vendors. Taking these factors into consideration, and interface philosophy is suggested which could be used to guide future integration efforts. The application of this philosophy to key interfaces within the Automated Manufacturing Research Facility ( AMRF ) at the National Bureau of Standards, is discussed.