To fully implement simulation-based acquisition, it will be critical to be able integrate manufacturing simulations from the supply chain down to the shop floor process level. Currently no standard exists for integrating these different types of simulations. This paper presents an overview of a neutral reference architecture for integrating distributed manufacturing simulation systems with each...

This paper reviews some of the most recently reported research into challenges and leading innovations in intelligent manufacturing for the Factories of the Future (FoF). Such research can be categorised as addressing five broad topic areas: manufacturing systems frameworks, theories and models; the pervasiveness of Cyber-Physical Systems (CPSs); the critical role of semantic technologies and i...

In this study, a semi-quantitative occupational chemical exposure risk prediction model, based on the calculation of exposure hazard indexes, was proposed, corrected, and applied to a national chemical exposure databank. The model comprises one factor used to describe toxicity (i.e., the toxicity index), and two factors used to reflect the exposure potential (i.e., the exposure index and protec...

Flexible manufacturing system is a system that is able to respond to changed conditions. In general, this flexibility is divided into two key categories and several subcategories. The first category is the so called machine flexibility which enables to make various products by the given machinery. The second category is routing flexibility enabling to execute the same operation by various machi...

It is now widely recognised that methods are needed for covering the whole lifecycle of Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) applications. In this paper, we deal with the requirements engineering phase of this lifecycle. A formal language is introduced for capturing real-time requirements expressed on CIM applications. The resulting specification is structured as a society of ‘agents’, each ...

Development of information technology industry provided great possibilities in the area of integration of diff erent CAx systems, such as CAD, CAM, CAE and others. In order to successfully link systems of automated-design (or Computer Aided Design CAD) with automated manufacturing systems (or Computer Aided Manufacturing – CAM), automation of manufacturing process planning is needed, i.e. CAPP ...

In the context of distributed manufacturing, existing models for the management of orders and work systems assume that the entirety of information about the state of the production environment is known. Instead, this paper studies the implications of networking in an environment in which no element possesses information about the entire state. An experiment in the form of a production simulatio...