IM Before CIM

Summary

Most of the existing literature on CIM, treats the manufacturing system as something fixed and unalterable, and sees the main challenge in the design of the computer system. This paper submits that for maximum efficiency, the main need is to integrate and simplify the manufacturing system (IM). This approach is infinitely more effective than the present attempts to use the computer to optimise the status quo. It tends to lead to the development of much more efficient and more flexible manufacturing systems, requiring much simpler and more economical computer systems to control them. This paper defines “Integration”, describes the practical steps that have to be taken in industry to introduce it, and suggests that integration is a means we can use to Dromote synergy. The total advantages obtained from IM, tend to be much greater than sum of the advantages achieved by each individual change.