Skip to main content
Log in

Developing a computer control system for a flexible manufacturing cell

  • Published:
International Journal of Flexible Manufacturing Systems Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This article focuses on the development of a computer control system for a flexible manufacturing cell. The paper outlines the various modules that are required for a computer control system and elaborates on the development of some of these modules. This is part of an ongoing research project at the University of the Witwatersrand. The aim of the project is to demonstrate the viability of flexible manufacturing systems to South African industry. Thus the main constraints of the project were cost, ease of implementation, and ease of maintainability. This necessitated the use of existing machinery and of computer systems and software that were readily available and already familiar to industry.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Browne, Maureen “Understanding CIM and Making It Work.”Production Engineering, Vol. 64, No. 11, pp. 20–22 (December 1985).

    Google Scholar 

  • Blundel, Kenneth, “Factory Simulation,” Course on computer integrated manufacturing systems theory and applications, American Society of Mechanical Engineering, section 3, pp. 1–12 (July 1986).

  • Dainichi Sykes Robotics Limited,Operator Training Manual: A300 Welding Controller, Preston, (1984).

  • Das, Sidhartha and Khumawala, B., “Flexible Manufacturing Systems: A Production Management Perspective,”Production and Inventory Management Journal, second quarter, Vol. 30, No. 2, pp. 63–67 (1989).

    Google Scholar 

  • Frazelle, Edward, “Flexibility: A Strategic Response in Changing Times,”Industrial Engineering, Vol. 18, No. 3, pp. 17–20 (March 1986).

    Google Scholar 

  • Gottfried, Byron,Elements of Stochastic Simulation, Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ (1984).

    Google Scholar 

  • Greenwood, Nigel R.,Implementing Flexible Manufacturing Systems, Macmillian, London (1987).

    Google Scholar 

  • Groover, Mikell,Automation, Production Systems and Computer Integrated Manufcture, Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ (1987).

    Google Scholar 

  • Groover, Mikell and Wiginton, John, “CIM and the Flexible Automated Factory of the Future,”Industrial Engineering, Vol. 18, No. 1, pp. 75–85 (January 1986).

    Google Scholar 

  • Karle, Mike, “Just-in-time Implementation in South Africa,”Proceedings of the Manufacturing Excellence Conference, Johannesburg (November 1987).

  • Merchant, Euguene, “The Factory of the Future,”Industrial Management, Vol. 27, No. 5, pp. 1–6 (September–October 1985).

    Google Scholar 

  • Pegden, Dennis,Introduction to SIMAN with Version 3.0 Enhancements, System Modelling Corporation, PA (1986).

    Google Scholar 

  • Pratt, J., Dainichi Sykes Robotics Limited,Connection Method between C1686 and Host Computer (October, 1984).

  • Primrose, P. and Leonard, R., “Establishing the Viability of FMS,”The FMS Magazine, pp. 104–106 (April 1985).

  • Randhawa, S., McDowel, E., Pendakur, R., Cook, C., Welsh, T. and Gailbler, C.,Dental Equipment Maker Uses Microcomputer-Based Data Management and Production Planning Systems, Industrial Engineering, Vol. 21, No. 1, pp. 24–27 (January 1989).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ranky, Paul,Computer Integrated Manufacturing, Prentice-Hall International, United Kingdom (1986).

    Google Scholar 

  • Rossol, L., “Issues in Off-line Programming,”Conference Proceedings for NSI Workshop on Intelligent Robots (November 1985).

  • Saul, Greg, “Flexible Manufacturing System is CIM Implemented at the Shop Floor Level,”Industrial Engineering, Vol. 17, No. 6, pp. 35–39 (June 1985).

    Google Scholar 

  • Schonberger, R.,Operations Management: Productivity and Quality, Business Publications, Plano, TX (1985).

    Google Scholar 

  • Software Publication Corporation,Harvard Graphics, version 2, Mountain View, CA (July 1987).

  • Townsend, Carl,Mastering Dbase IV Programming, Sybex, San Francisco, CA (1989).

    Google Scholar 

  • Vollman, T., Berry, W. and Whybark, C.,Manufacturing Planning and Control Systems, Irwin, Homewood, IL (1988).

    Google Scholar 

  • Wheatly, Malcolm, “How to Manage the Bottlenecks,”Management Today, pp. 84–86 (October 1986).

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Levin, L., Fielding, E. & Ackhurst, K. Developing a computer control system for a flexible manufacturing cell. Int J Flex Manuf Syst 5, 143–159 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01358951

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01358951

Key words

Navigation