Implementing a model-based generic user interface for computer integrated manufacturing systems

Computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) systems are complex in terms of performing a variety of activities, maintaining a range of information and involving various classes of users with differing levels of knowledge and skills, and different levels and time spans of decision making. Much investment and effort has been made to formalize and automate the performance of the CIM elements in a manufacturing system. However, each CIM subsystem will typically have its own terminology, procedures and presentation formats. This places a heavy and unnecessary burden on users, resulting in frustration and reduced effectiveness. Research has been carried out by the Manufacturing Systems Integration Research Institute at Loughborough University towards the generation of a user-oriented interface for CIM systems. This research has resulted in a conceptual approach, which incorporates a generic user – task model, which enables the generation of flexible and reusable software components to form a semi-generic user interface for CIM users. The CIM user interface provides presentation tools to monitor and control the performance of the CIM elements. Advanced modelling and integration technologies have been deployed to enable the system to cover a wide area of manufacturing domains. These technologies include modern manufacturing modelling architectures such as CIMOSA and GERAM, and advanced communication techniques such as those used by Web-based software applications in manufacturing environments. The implementation issues of the generic user interface concept, together with its application within an industrial case study are discussed in this paper.