Computer Integrated Manufacturing: Empirical Implications for Industrial Information Systems

On the formal specification and verification of CIM architectures using LOTOS

Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) provides a structured basis for establishing connectivity between sub-systems to facilitate product data delivery and control from the conceptual design stage through the many intermediate stages in producing the finished product. In this paper we focus on a CIM architecture applicable to electronics manufacturing for printed circuit boards based on studies completed by the authors under the sponsorship of the Northern Telecom University Interaction Program. Our presentation commences with the conceptual considerations of Computer Integrated Manufacturing and the special process characteristics of printed circuit board manufacture which must be considered in formulating the appropriate CIM architecture. We then address the system design issues and problems involved in implementing a viable CIM framework for integrating the many islands of automation in all areas of the manufacturing enterprise.

The application of computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) to one-of-a-kind heavy engineering industries is one of today's most challenging tasks for industry and information technology (IT) vendors. Because of the complexity of the shipbuilding process, as a typical representative of this kind of industry, available solutions are not yet satisfactory. Even the basic theory of current CIM systems does not fit many aspects of requirements for the shipbuilding industry. The application of CIM tools, which are based on ideas of line production and have a strict sequence for all tasks, has very often failed in the past, mainly because of a lack of flexibility. Therefore, basic work needs to be performed, starting with a detailed analysis of today's situation and leading to a careful development for the real requirements of tomorrow. This paper deals with the problems resulting from the exceptional nature of shipbuilding for the application of CIM elements. The approach chosen for modeling of the production process, illustrated by some examples from actual research and development (R + D) projects, is described. An evaluation of the benefit of structured shipyard modeling and a look at complementary R + D actions conclude the paper.

The growth of the Japanese steel industry has been supported by three factors: operation, equipment, and management technology. Computer-integrated manufacturing (CIM) is the core of management technology. CIM's purpose is to improve production efficiency through computer integration of data covering the staff (design and production control) and management department as well as the production line process department (order entry, manufacturing, and shipment). In this paper, an overview of the Japanese steel industry's system development process is given and the steps taken in order to establish the CIM system are described. The organization, operation, and improvement of operational capability, along with marketing and production-related systems, are integrated. Furthermore, an integrated system model is given as a CIM conceptual model. In closing, reference is also made to the challenges facing CIM in the Japanese steel industry as well as future directions to be taken.

ESPRIT Project 595 was concerned with the application of computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) to the heavy welded fabrication industry which typically manufactures products which are very large and required in small batch quantities, often only one off, e.g. ships, power stations, bridges, boilers, and offshore structures. The main objective of the project was to identify and validate CIM strategies that will enable European welded fabrication industries to restructure themselves and become competitive in world markets. This was approached by the formal analysis of industrial collaborators manufacturing systems using a recognized methodology and the subsequent synthesis of a generalized manufacturing system architecture for automated robotic welding and associated subsystems. The project work programme has followed the concept of top-down analysis matched to bottom-up implementation. The application of CIM lo welded fabrication has not been a simplistic acquisition of information technology su...

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) play an increasingly important role in all aspects of competitiveness e.g. for both products and production techniques, but also management methods, the organisation of the firm and human resource training. Obtaining and, just as importantly, mastering scientific and technological information is therefore essential to competitiveness of all SMEs. During the last two decades, several factors have forced global manufacturers to make dramatic changes in their products, markets, and manufacturing strategies. One of the ways by which SMEs can achieve a competitive advantage in manufacturing is through the implementation of computer integrated manufacturing (CIM). Realising the importance of SMEs, an attempt has been made in this paper to study the implementation of CIM in SMEs. First, the characteristics of CIM have been studied with reference to the application and infrastructure of SMEs. Secondly, a framework has been presented for the implementation of CIM in SMEs with the help of a conceptual model. Finally, future research directions on CIM in SMEs are indicated.

High quality and low-cost factors are among the main components of manufacturing. Nowadays, businesses need to keep up with technological innovations in order to meet these factors and survive in a competitive environment. These require the use of high-performance computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) technologies in order to manufacture products faster, inexpensively, flexibly and more efficiently. These technologies generally include computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM), industrial robotics, automated material handling systems, group technology, flexible manufacturing systems (FMS), rapid prototyping (RP) operations and computer numerical controlled (CNC) machines. The main purpose of these advancements is to provide higher labour efficiency and flexibility, lower production time and a reduction of direct labour requirements. In this chapter, the effects of CIM technologies on manufacturing processes as well as product quality will be comparatively analysed. The effect of the internet of things (IoT), cyber-physical service (CPS) and cloud computing (CC) on smart manufacturing systems, which can be operated and integrated with CIM and contribute to increasing manufacturing efficiency by using information, will be revealed in detail.

PurposeThe paper aims to investigate the effect of compositions of managerial/demographic characteristics of the top management team (TMT) on the extent of information technology (IT) adoption in small businesses (SMEs), where such strategic decisions made by TMT have direct and significant influence on all aspects of business operations and its competitive position in a market.Design/methodology/approachBased on the upper echelon theory, the study formulated four hypotheses relating the compositions of TMT characteristics to the extent of IT adoption in different functional areas. Multiple regression analysis was employed to analyze the data.FindingsThe age average and the education average of TMT in small businesses are significant predictors of the extent of IT adoption. However, the group heterogeneity (either gender or ethnicity), contrary to the prediction, has negative impact on the extent of IT adoption.Practical implicationsThe research findings indicate that the age and education composition of managers as current/future top management is critical to facilitate the extent of IT adoption in SMEs.Originality/valueThe research contributes to the body of knowledge in IT adoption by complementing the results of prior research with the findings that the characteristic compositions of TMT affect the extent of IT adoption in SMEs, applying the upper echelon theory to examine issues surrounding IT adoption, and suggesting practical implications that SMEs could compose, educate, and rejuvenate their top management teams to achieve a high extent of IT adoption.

The impact of clinical leadership on health information technology adoption: Systematic review

IT Adoption by Internal Auditors in Public Sector: A Conceptual Study

This study provides an empirical analysis of some managerial factors which are critical to the successful planning and implementation of Computer-Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) systems. CIM is viewed as an integrated computer-based information technology applications and as a strategic tool which ties together different technologies, as well as various functional areas and managerial levels. Thus, enough emphasis must be placed on communicating the company-wide goals and strategies to various functional areas and employees, particularly with regard to the CIM implementation. In this study, a number of managerial factors will be identified and factor analysis will be used to examine the technological and managerial factors.

PurposeAn “IT mindset” significantly influences public sector information technology (IT) adoption in least developed countries (LDCs). The purpose of this paper is to explore the IT mindset concept and its relationship with IT knowledge and intention to explore IT in the workplace.Design/methodology/approachThe research used a mixed-methods approach in two phases. Qualitative work was conducted to formulate the conceptual framework and hypotheses, followed by a survey of 228 public sector officials in Bangladesh to test the hypotheses.FindingsThe study showed that an IT mindset can be conceptualised as comprising personal innovativeness with IT and IT beliefs. The IT mindset was significantly related to intention to explore IT use in the workplace and its components were influenced by an individual’s IT skills and IT awareness.Research limitations/implicationsFuture research could further explore the IT mindset concept and its antecedents and consequences in LDCs, where it is often related to successful IT adoption, and also in public and private organisations elsewhere.Practical implicationsThe study furthers understanding of barriers to IT adoption in LDCs’ public sectors. Building IT knowledge through IT skills and awareness is required to orient mindsets to IT adoption.Social implicationsImproved efficiency, productivity and transparency in the public sector through IT use have flow-on societal and economic benefits. The paper provides insights into greater facilitation of e-government and IT in the public sector.Originality/valueThe study is theoretically significant because the IT mindset concept has lacked in-depth study and requires clarification of its nature and role.

Health information technology (IT) adoption, it is argued, will dramatically improve patient care. We study the impact of hospital IT adoption on patient outcomes focusing on the roles of technological and organizational complements in affecting IT's value and explore underlying mechanisms through which IT facilitates the coordination of labor inputs. We link detailed hospital discharge data on all Medicare fee-for-service admissions from 2002-2007 to detailed hospital-level IT adoption information. We employ a difference-in-differences strategy to identify the parameters of interest. For all IT sensitive conditions we find that health IT adoption reduces mortality for the most complex patients but does not affect outcomes for the median patient. This implies that the benefits from IT adoption are skewed to large institutions with a severe case mix. We decompose the impact of health IT into care coordination, clinical information management, and other components. The benefits from health IT are primarily experienced by patients whose diagnoses require cross-specialty care coordination and extensive clinical information management.

Forecasting methods for CIM technologies

Nowadays information technology (IT) adoption is considered to be the main driver of improved performance in all types of knowledge-based organizations. This article is an attempt to provide insight into whether IT adoption (ITA) increases innovation tendency by universities and what kind of influence the level of staff capabilities exerts in this relationship. By using data from a survey of 228 individuals drawn from universities in Northern Nigeria, three models were developed and tested by means of parametric analyses of multiple correlation and regression to explain the relationships between ITA, staff knowledge capabilities (SKC) and universities’ innovative behaviour (UIB). Results of the analysis show a positive link between the variables, signifying that universities exhibiting high level of innovative output are those that have intensely adopted IT and employ and train staff to increase their knowledge capabilities.