Computer-Integrated Manufacturing

Information systems transformed the manufacturing process beginning with digital manufacturing and the integration of Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM). The standards were developed in the 1980's by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME). Computer-Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) is unique by incorporating information systems for data storage, retrieval, manipulation, and presentation. The purpose of CIM is to integrate product design, engineering, process planning and manufacturing by means of computer systems. By integrating all phases of manufacturing, a company can increase productivity, quality, meet customer needs more effectively and gain flexibility (CIM). CIM separated its self from other manufacturing methods in three distinct ways. First, how the data is stored, recovered, changed and presented. The second is the devices for detecting state and changing the processes. Finally, the third is the use of algorithms for combining the data processing component with the sensor/modification component. The streamlining of these processes increase and enhances productivity and allow for more complex manufacturing techniques to be imposed (CIM). The three major challenges facing CIM are integration, data integrity and process control. Components produced require different machines; these machines use a different communication protocol, which creates new challenges especially when the components being manufactured are constantly changing. CIM can save a company labor in terms of operating machines, but it requires increased labor in data integrity, ensuring all communication lines are running efficiently. The hard drives where the data is stored allows for manipulation and retrieval with a press of a button which needs streamlining by combining the hardware and software. Controlling the process can be the most difficult challenge in CIM (CIM). Human operators must follow the process in order to control