The paper describes a planning network (PN) which is to assist the better harmonization and higher quality and production volume of small and medium-size enterprises (SME), if they are joining their efforts by being active members of the PN. To be an active member (node) of the PN means to accept the production and quality rules of the PN and to offer a given amount of the SME's planning and production capacity to the PN. The PN means a real-time online network with three basic functions. The local planning module (LPM), the coordination unit (CU) and the evaluation module (EM) are the three software units that covers the functions. This PN is a kind of virtual, or extended enterprise, however it is different because of the long-term cooperation of the partners, instead of working together only for 1-2 given orders. The intelligence of the PN is supported by expert systems in the CU and EM.

Object-oriented design and the reuse of FMS components in new applications using a hybrid simulation and scheduling system are introduced. The goal of this research is to provide methods and tools to build up FMS simulation models easily, fast and reliably. This system has been implemented as a combination of a traditional simulation language (SIMAN/Cinema) and an intelligent expert environment (G2). Reuse in SIMAN/Cinema and in G2 are analyzed separately and together in general, and in the context of FMS to get acceptable solutions, to build up new simulation models based on previous, different simulation models. The design methodology used for model development is based on the object-oriented Rational Rose CASE tool and on use-case design of the OOSE methodology.

This paper deals with some important aspects and their changes in the field of manufacturing automation in the last 20-30 years. The main issue of this study is the application of different computer assisted techniques, tools and means for the design, production, test, etc. of engineering products and of the manufacturing and assembly facilities to produce the products. We deal with the following main topics: CAD/CAM/CAx, CIM, concurrent engineering, application of artificial intelligence means, open systems, integration and standard communication, and their relationships. Systems developed in our laboratory will be discussed as demonstrations of certain topics, and finally an application example for intelligent control is given, where some of the above paradigms are combined.

Computer aided simulation can assist both in the design and operation of flexible manufacturing systems (FMS). A proper simulation model of a given FMS could be the best tool to validate it and to evaluate its performance. System control can be solved by separating the control from the FMS with a communication interface. In this case it is possible to use the simulated system for investigations instead of the real system. Such simulation systems can be built up using expert system shells. In this paper an FMS simulation system (SSQA) will be introduced with the hybrid application of expert systems and a traditional simulation software. The system has some evaluation, scheduling and quality control power as well, according to the implemented advisory systems which communicate with the simulation package. As an alternative of the hybrid system a pure knowledge based system is discussed. The comparison of the two systems using the same CIM pilot plant is also given.>

To maintain the flexible and fast coordination of different design and manufacturing processes for make-to-order production the concurrent engineering (CE) approach seems to be a viable alternative, since classical computer-integrated manufacturing (CIM) theories are not always applicable. The authors present a way of implementing the CE approach to establish a conceptual model of an intelligent system for designing and/or redesigning the manufacturing environment, and the joint production control processes with a coupled computer control architecture. The CE approach is demonstrated by means of some experiences on a prototype of a cooperative system for a manufacturing environment to design the processes and the plant-layout of production facilities for a given set of products. Knowledge processing technology was applied for representing and processing knowledge about make-to-order production systems. While utilizing these methodologies and procedures in a blackboard architecture, different advanced design tools were applied for system design and performance analysis.>