CIM (Computer-Integrated Manufacturing): It All Starts with Product Definition

摘要

The logical starting place for computer-integrated manufacturing (CIM) is at the front end of the production process - product definition. It consists of the part/assembly drawings, material lists, specifications, and procedures. Product definition starts at the design agencies: two nuclear design laboratories (Los Alamos National Laboratory and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory) and a non-nuclear design laboratory (Sandia National Laboratories with two site locations). These laboratories perform the basic part design which is then transferred over a secure communications network to the Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant, where weapon components are produced by Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc., under contract with the Department of Energy (DOE). Initial Graphics Exchange Specifications (IGES) and DOE Data Exchange Format (DOEDEF) translation software is used to transfer part designs between dissimilar graphics systems. Product-definition data flow is examined both external and internal to the Y-12 Plant. Software developed specifically to computerize product definition is covered as follows: Electronic File Manager (EFM), Manage Design Documents, Distribute Product Definition, Manage Manufacturing Procedures and Product Specifications. Trident II is the first program to beneficially use CIM technologies plant-wide. Prototype software was written to add a layer of user friendliness through multilayer menu selects to enable access to a number of existing application software packages. Additional software was developed and purchased that enables a single personal computer to meet many needs. These product-definition needs include procedures generation, graphics viewing, and office automation. 3 figs. (ERA citation 12:013921)