Steps towards computerized administration of factory information resources for CIM

Being typical of manufacturing industry currently, "islands of automation" have severely limited further productivity increases. As being gradually realised, CIM (Computer Integrated Manufacturing) can provide opportunities for higher productivity, and CIM systems integration is the major task for achieving CIM. With reference to the background, this research project was mainly concerned with formalising flexible CIM systems integration architectures and evolving generic and flexible integration tools and methods. [Continues.]