A deductive object-oriented approach to CIM integration

The aim of computer integrated manufacturing CIM is reduction of the lead times from order entry to shipping and from design to production, as well as integration of information and control systems employed during various manufacturing stages. Complete integration demands an open, expandable and highly-expressive data model which can represent raw data, complex information and knowledge, and by means of which these objectives can be achieved. A deductive object-oriented data model DOODM , proposed here for the first time, takes into account the four major components of CIM: conceptual design, process planning, production scheduling and production control. In this model, objects represent manufacturing entities, their features, composition and behaviour, whereas object relationships in terms of definite clauses or deductive rules express manufacturing control, constraints and knowledge. The models' features and applications are demonstrated by examples