Manufacturing strategy analysis and system design-the complete cycle within a computer-aided design environment

This paper discusses the conceptual structure and implementation of an integrated, computer-aided manufacturing system design environment, known as I/O-CAMSD (integrated and open computer-aided manufacturing system design). The work has provided valuable information to prove the feasibility of developing an integrated CAMSD framework to support the complete cycle of manufacturing operation—from manufacturing strategy analysis (MSA) to manufacturing system design (MSD) task execution. This has opened up possibilities for a new generation of software to be developed, which can be used online to regulate and automate a manufacturing company’s MSD activities. An overview of I/O-CAMSD is provided including the key issues addressed, its overall system structure, its MSA/MSD interface, and its task-centered software structure. The system’s actual application within industrial companies is also discussed.