An Introduction To CIM

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 Definition
In Computer-Integrated Manufacturing (CIM), the
traditionally separate functions of research and
development, design, production, assembly,
inspection, and quality control are all linked.

Manufacturing Engineering and Technology; Serope Kalpakjian, Steven R.

Schmid

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 Definition…
CIM is the integration of the total
manufacturing enterprise through the use of
integrated systems and data communications
coupled with new managerial philosophies
that improve organizational and personnel
efficiency.
Computer and Automation Systems Association, (CASA), Society of
Manufacturing Engineers (SME)

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 Introduction…
• CIM is may faceted
• Involves a number of computer related
technologies
• Manufacturing & business environment is
also many-faceted
• CIM doesn’t exist in isolation

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 Introduction…
• CIM is a moving target
• CIM is a new technology
• “CIM is ICT in manufacturing”
• “CIM is not a technology, this is the way
we use technology”
• CIM is moving towards a “paperless”
factory

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 Introduction…
• Different companies have different
backgrounds
• Most companies will progress towards CIM
through stages of partial integration
• Some may choose only to integrate certain
aspects of their business

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 Introduction…
• In may companies, CIM initially
concentrates on integrating manufacturing
as a first priority
• Other functions are then linked to
manufacturing
• Manufacturing element is core of CIM

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 Introduction…
• CIM incorporates all manufacturing processes

ASRS
AGV

Automated
NC
Assembly
Machining

Order Entry
CAD/CAM
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 Other Acronyms
• Computer Integrated Enterprise (CIE)
• Computer Integrated Manufacturing Enterprise (CIME)
• Computer Integrated Manufacturing & Engineering
(CIME)
• CIM may be used to mean different things by different
people
• All meanings will include some element of integration &
computers

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CIM Wheel

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 CIM Wheel…
• Lists 21 aspects of company operation
• Interconnecting arrows
• Central role of
• Integrated systems architecture
• Information resource management &
communications
• Totality of integration; CIM links the whole
company
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 The Changing Manufacturing &
Management Scene
• Western vs. Japanese companies
• West: step change by the application of
technology
• Japan: Kaizen
• Change intermittently & continually
• Involvement of people
• Low cost & low technology

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The Changing Manufacturing & Management Scene

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The CIM Jigsaw
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 WHY CIM?

• “To meet a company’s business strategy”

• Implementing CIM is not an end in itself
• CIM is a means to an end, and the end is the
achievement of a particular business strategy

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 Why CIM?
(1) To meet competitive pressures

• Reductions & increases in a competitive pressure

• Reduction:
• Lead times
• Costs
• Inventory
• Increases
• Quality
• Customer Satisfaction
 CIM helps in handling information to achieve these
targets

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 Why CIM?
(2) To Coordinate & Organize data

• CIM helps in better use of data

• Firstly; Data must be organized & Coordinated
through databases
• Secondly; Data should be readily accessible;
this is achieved through networks

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 Why CIM?

(2) To Coordinate & Organize data

• Hierarchical Structures of a company

• The branches of structure contain the groups
of specialists
• The vertical links are channels for the
communication of control & for reporting
information & data

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Theorg_structure.ppt Hierarchical Structure of Companies
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 Why CIM?
(2) To Coordinate & Organize data

• CIM has potential to organize four types of data:

1. Functional Data: it is the information & data used by the
specialist groups to function
2. Product Data: The data generated by the specialist groups
about their function
3. Operational Data: Plans & instructions required to control
the operations of the company
4. Performance Data: To confirm that instructions have been
carried out or a standard achieved

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 Why CIM?
(3) To eliminate paper & the costs associated
with its use

• Many engineering & clerical tasks are computer

assisted
• This has increased ‘Paper-work’
• Copying information & data has the potential for
error
• CIM enables information to be stored electronically
& displayed on terminals

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 Why CIM?

(4) To automate & increase the speed of

communications

• Office-to-office communications automated by

telephones
• The networks of a CIM implementation permit the
sending of messages, memoranda & documents by
email over long distances
• Communication b/w customers & suppliers by EDI
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 Why CIM?

(5) To facilitate Simultaneous Engineering

• Definition
• CE can only be easily implements with computers
• All those working on a project must be able to
access to work & data held by others

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 24
Concurrent Engineering
 Why CIM?

(6) To meet the demand for data communication

• The arrival of PCs in 1980s

• Networks & Computers Communications had been
developing alongside PCs
• Open Systems: Communication methods which
enable any computer to communicate with any
other

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 Meanings Of ‘Integrated’
• CIM uses ‘integration’ to mean ‘linked’
• The word ‘integrated’ has 2 interpretations:
• First: Merging several operations or functions or
items of data so that component parts are not
distinguishable from the whole
• This use of ‘integrated’ is not used in CIM
• Example: Machining Center; a multi-purpose machine

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Schematic Diagram of a Machining Center

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CNC Machining Center
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 Meanings Of ‘Integrated’…
Second:
•Linking things which keep the form they had when
they were not linked

•This is the integration of CIM

•Example: Linking machines in an FMS

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Three Separate Machines are Linked in an FMS
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FMS 31
 External Communication
• Communication of data b/w companies
• Electronic data interchange (EDI)
• Electronically integrating purchasing with
supplier companies
• Order are delivered & traced over a link from
computer to computer
• Avoids time taken for paper-based documents &
postal delays
 Many companies implement EDI before
considering CIM
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 External Communication…

• Electronic transmission of data held on CAD

systems
• More complex than just transmitting text (of a
purchase order)
Interfacing: Linking two items together

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 Island of Automation and
Software
► In many cases a software is able to run on only one
computer type or a very restricted range of computers
► When such computers have been used to control
machines, the combination has bee termed an island of
automation
► An automatically operating machine that functions
independently of any other machine or process
► An automation system that is usually not integrated or
compatible with other systems
► When a software is similarly restricted in its ability to link
to other software, this is called an island of software

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 Dedicated & Open Systems
• The opposite of ‘dedicated’ in communication
terms is ‘open’
• The opposite of ‘dedicated’ in automation
terms is ‘flexible’
• Open systems enable any type of computer
system (comprising hardware & software) to
communicate with any other
• They are based on ‘neutral interfaces’ not
dedicated interfaces
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 Components Of CIM
IGES,
CAD CAE GT DFM PDES,
DMIS

TQM
Product
design CAD/CAM
Bar codes,
EDI

MRP CAPP
Systems Process
JIT/ management CIM planning
Cellular
kanban manufacturing
DSS/ES/
AI MAP,
Manufacture STEP
LAN, TOP,
satellites

NC/CNC/ AGV, Automated Cells

FMS Robotics
DNC ASRS inspection and centers
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Computer-Integrated
Manufacturing System

•Extensive database
•Comprehensive,
Large-scale, integrated
communications system
•Benefits:
-short product life cycle
-quality and uniformity
-productivity & cost
-control of whole process

A schematic illustration of a
computer-integrated
manufacturing system. Source:
U. Rembold, et al., Computer-
Integrated Manufacturing and
Engineering. Addison-Wesley,
1993.
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Any Questions?

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 Who can Answer?
► What are the meanings of ‘integrated’ as applied
to CIM?
► Why has CIME been proposed as an alternative
acronym to CIM?
► What are the two most fundamental elements of
CIM?
► Differentiate between ‘island of automation’ and
‘island of software’.
► What do the following stand for?
CASA SME IGES DFMA EDI
CE CAPP ASRS FMS AGV

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THE END

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