This book presents a modern and attractive approach to computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) by stressing the crucial role of information management aspects. The 31 contributions contained constitute the final report on the EC Project TEMPUS No. 2609 aimed at establishing a new curriculum and regular education in the new field of information management in CIM at European universities.
Much attention was paid to the style of writing and coverage of the important issues. Thus the book is particularly suited as a text for students and young scientists approaching CIM from different directions; at the same time, it is a comprehensive guide for industrial engineers in machine engineering, computer science, control engineering, artificial intelligence, production management, etc.

Introductory overview

Shortcomings and extensions of relational DBMS
Evaluation of object-oriented database systems
Active object-oriented database systems for CIM applications
Databridge between RDBMS and OODBMS
Database requirements of CIM applications
Planning and scheduling
Operational research models and methods in CIM
Production planning and control systems - State of the art and new directions
Simulation - A tool for developing advanced production strategies
Dynamic modeling of CIM systems
Fuzzy modeling and control
Foundations of computer communications
Information Management and Information Systems Planning
Overview of function modelling - IDEFO
Data modeling with IDEF1X
Automatic programming in CIM based on intelligent tools
Model based decision support systems
Man - Machine interface for CIM
Designing for evolutionary systems
Active subsystems for CIM environments
CAD systems: trends and developments
Concurrent engineering
Groupwork in the shop-floor-area needs decentral CIM-structures and components
Does CIM need AI?
Multi-agent-systems - A natural trend in CIM
Production scheduling and genetic algorithms
Implementation of systems with declarative constraints
Qualitative reasoning and CIM
Comparison and analysis of selected CIM-laboratory concepts and their importance for the improvement of staff training
The use of the active database SIMON for a short term production planning system in the automotive industry.