SOFTWARE FOR INTEGRATED MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS PART I 1 R A . Volz and A . W . Naylor

The goals of our manufacturing software research are: Part I presented an overview of the Michigan unified approach to manufacturing software. This paper considers the specific characteristics of the approach that allow it to realize the goals of reduced cost, increased reliability and increased flexibility. It examines why the blending of a components view, distributed languages, generics and formal models is important, why each indi&ual part of this approach is essential, and why each component will typically have each of these parts. An example of a specification for a red material handling system will be presented using our apprpach and compared with the standard interface specification given by the manufacturer. Use of the component in a distributed manufacturing system will then be compared with use of the traditional specification with a more traditional approach to designing the system. This paper will also provide an overview of the underlying 1. To develop techniques for building manufacturing software in a more reliable, less costly manner than present techniques. 2. To develop techniques for manufacturing software. maintenance of 3. To develop techniques for producing reusable software. 4. To develop techniques for producing portable software. 5 . To develop techniques supporting a components industry. Each of the five key concepts supports one or more of these goals. _ _ 2 Use of Modern Extensible General mechanisms used for implementing distributed m a n u f a c h g systems using our unified software/hardware component a ~ proach. Purpose Languages