Problem Description and Fundamental Concepts

Abstract

This chapter deals with the fundamental concepts of current manufacturing systems and problems need to be overcome on the way to a factory of the future. The first step to approach these challenges consists in a characterization of paradigm shifts that are needed to address the information transparency demands of a factory that is able to reconfigure itself by means of up-to-date information from the field. Fundamental concepts of modern industrial manufacturing deliver a brief description of industrial manufacturing prior to a basic characterization of emerged manufacturing systems in current factories.