Virtual CIM System: A Reality in CIM Training

Virtual Reality (VR) technologies have transformed the landscape of intelligent computer based instruction and offer unique new viewpoints on the core goals of education and training. What distinguishes VR from all preceding technology is the sense of immediacy and control created by the immersion process: the feeling of “being there”. Over the last ten years, Singapore manufacturing industries have shifted towards producing high quality, high value-added products for export to the world market. Products manufactured would have to compete with other countries in terms of delivery, quality and cost. Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) is known to be one of the enabling techniques to achieve this objective. This paper presents the features and use of the VR CIM System currently used as part of the CIM training curriculum in Temasek Polytechnic. The VR environment allows students to operate a fully automated factory from the basic level of programming machines such as robots, AS/RS, etc. all the way to cell control, scheduling, and order generation in production planning. Various scenarios in terms of control complexities are possible, so that students can gradually progress from running a simple system to one that is highly complex. Because the environment exists only in the virtual world, students can choose to work on the exercise at their own pace without supervision and also without the fear of damaging the equipment or causing harm to themselves.