Manufacturing Research Exchange: Foundation of a Japan-U.S. Cooperative Research Program

摘要

In both nations the manufacturing enterprise is being transformed by a host of social, economic, and technological changes. Small batch custom production is becoming increasingly important, temporary strategic alliances between domestic and foreign competitors are becoming commonplace, traditionally unrelated organizations are now linked, and there is a growing premium on finding or developing employees with the ability to synthesize multiple, sometimes contradictory elements. Topics for joint research were sensor, control, and CAD/CAM integration technologies. The Product Realization subgroup proposed joint research leading to definition of a Computer-Aided Product Realization system. The Intelligent Manufacturing Control subgroup recommended research in sensing, control, and in the Management subgroup, protection and detection of problems in large, complex manufacturing systems. The subgroup on University-Industry Coordination anticipated future joint discussions on declining engineering enrollment, the status of the manufacturing engineering profession, continuing education, and university-industry relations.