10 CAD/CAM/CIM

1.6 DEVELOPMENT OF CIM

CIM is an integration process leading to the integration of the manufacturing enterprise.
Fig 1.4 indicates different levels of this integration that can be seen within an industry.
Dictated by the needs of the individual enterprise this process usually starts with the
need to interchange information between the some of the so called islands of automation.
Flexible manufacturing cells, automatic storage and retrieval systems, CAD/CAM based
design etc. are the examples of islands of automation i.e. a sort of computer based
automation achieved completely in a limited sphere of activity of an enterprise. This
involves data exchange among computers, NC machines, robots, gantry systems etc.
Therefore the integration process has started bottom up. The interconnection of physical
systems was the first requirement to be recognized and fulfilled.

Fig. 1.4 Levels of Integration Against Evolution of CIM

The next level of integration, application integration in Fig 1.4 is concerned with the
integration of applications, the term applications being used in the data processing sense.
The applications are those which are discussed in section 1.4 under the heading CIM
hardware and software. Application integration involves supply and retrieval of
information, communication between application users and with the system itself. Thus
the application integration level imposes constraints on the physical integration level.
There has to be control of the applications themselves also.
Computer Integrated Manufacturing 11

The highest level of integration, business integration in Fig.1.4 is concerned with the
management and operational processes of an enterprise. The management process

Chapter 1
provides supervisory control of the operational process which in turn co-ordinates the
day-to-day execution of the activities at the application level. The business integration
level therefore places constraints on the application level. This level offers considerable
challenge to the integration activity.

QUESTIONS
1. Describe the need for CIM and the issues addressed by CIM.
2. What are the different types of manufacturing? Make an assessment of the extent
of computer control in specific cases of each types of manufacturing.
3. What are the various activities of a manufacturing plant which can be carried out
through computer control?
4. Discuss the main elements of CIM systems.
5. Differentiate among physical integration, application integration and business
integration. Give specific examples of each.