1. Interoperable CNC Manufacturing for the Global
Business by
Prof. Stephen Newman, University of Bath, UK
S T Newman1
A Nassehi1, X W Xu2, R S U Rosso Jr3, L.Ali4, R Liu5, L Y Zheng6, S Kumar1, P
Vichare1, V Dhokia1
1 Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Bath, BA2 7AY, Bath, UK
2 Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Auckland, Auckland 1142,
New Zealand
3 Department of Computer Science, State University of Santa Catarina (UDESC),
Joinville - HCSC- Brazil
4 National Engineering and Scientific Commission Pakistan, Islamabad, Pakistan
5 School of Mechanical Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong
Province 250061, China
6 Department of Industrial and Manufacturing System Engineering, Beihang
University, Beijing, 100083, China
Abstract: The ongoing trend towards global business models
presents a new set of challenges and defines new requirements for manufacturing
enterprises. Amongst these challenges, strategic agility or the ability to
adapt to changing circumstances on a long term basis is paramount in an
enterprise's capability to survive. An enterprise that is inherently agile will
be able to meet shifting market requirements as well as geographically
distributed demand. Furthermore such an enterprise can cope with both sudden
and gradual changes in its resources. In the domain of manufacturing, CNC
technology is a major contributor to the production capacity of the
enterprises.
The advances in CNC technology coupled with enhancements in computing systems
have provided the basis to re-examine the way in which Computer Aided Systems
(CAx) can be used to enable global manufacturing. Resource fluidity is an
enabler for achieve long-term flexibility and strategic agility.
Interoperability of the various components of the CAx chain is therefore a
major perquisite for manufacturing enterprises for becoming global players.
Being interoperable, the resource can be utilised interchangeably in a
plug-and-play manner where the integrity of the transferred information is
ensured.
Computer Aided Design (CAD) systems were the first components of the CAx chain
where standards to achieve interoperability received significant attention. The
development of commercial standards such as Data Exchange Format (DXF) and
Initial Graphics Exchange Specification (IGES) allowed different CAD vendors to
exchange part drawings without having to translate the data for a specific
target system. This effort was followed by an ISO endorsed effort which
resulted in the development of STandard for the Exchange of Product model data
(STEP). Parts of the standard have been released under ISO 10303.
Development of STEP was later extended to other CAx systems to support process
planning, machining and inspection. Over the last five years the eminence of
STEP standard for machining entitled STEP-NC has become a well known vehicle
for research to improve the level of information available at the execution
stage of manufacturing. Apart from STEP and STEP-NC other generic standards
have also been utilised to devise methods for supporting interoperability in
CNC manufacture.
In this paper the authors will introduce the requirements for global
manufacturing. The existing standards available to support interoperability
will then be examined together with their application to investigate their
ability in meeting these requirements. A number of examples of interoperable
systems and in particular a number of STEP-NC based studies will be provided to
demonstrate the current capabilities of these systems. An in-depth analysis of
the strengths and weaknesses of the existing systems together with the future
opportunities and possible threats will then be carried out. The results will
be utilised to construct a framework for future development of interoperable
CAx systems with the aim of providing researchers with a platform to support
global manufacturing.
2. Prof.
Abhijit Deshmukh, Program Director of Cyberinfrastructure &
Manufacturing Enterprise Systems, NSF, USA
3. A Look into the future of Industrial and Systems
Engineering by Prof.
Richard Wysk, Professor and Leonhard Chair in Engineering, Penn State,
USA
Abstract:
The past forty years have seen the arrival and widespread use of computers and
personal digital assistants (PDAs), numerical controlled machines, robots,
artificial intelligence and nanotechnologies. Today, we manufacture devices
smaller than viruses and bacteria, and we have the ability to see individual
atoms. Technology has come at a pace unparalleled in human history. In spite of
these changes, most industrial and systems engineering curricula look much the
same as they did some forty years ago.
As technology continues to change, the role and requirements of engineers is
also changing. This presentation is intended to provide a perspective on the
rate of change for technology and engineering. It then looks at the role of
engineers in the development of new products. Part of the thesis for the
presentation is that new products come about as the result of technologies that
are developed as well as the need for new products. Our ability to produce more
accurate products has created a market for high precision small components. The
same is true for our ability to use and develop a broader set of engineered
materials. A brief discussion of where we have come from and where we are
moving toward is provided. Some key needs for engineers in the future will be
provided. A view of the product focus and process focus for the future will be
developed.
Biography: RICHARD A. WYSK is William
E. Leonhard Chair in Engineering and Professor of Industrial Engineering,
The Pennsylvania State University. Dr. Wysk's research and teaching
interests are in the general area of Computer Integrated Manufacturing
(CIM). In particular, he is interested in Computer-Aided Engineering,
Planning for Manufacturing and Flexible Manufacturing Systems (FMSs)
planning, design and control. Dr. Wysk has coauthored six books
including Computer-Aided Manufacturing, with T.C. Chang and H.P.
Wang -- the 1991 IIE Book of the Year and the 1991 SME Eugene Merchant
Book of the Year. He has also published more than two hundred technical
papers in the open-literature in journals including the Transactions
of ASME, the Transactions of IEEE and the IIE Transactions. He is
the Editor-and-chief od the SME Journals, an Associate Editor and/or
a member of the Editorial Board for five other technical journals.
Dr. Wysk is a Fellow of the Institute of Industrial Engineers as
well as the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, a member of Sigma
Xi, and a member of Alpha Pi Mu and Tau Beta Pi. He is the recipient
of the IIE David F. Baker Distinguished Research Award, the IIE
Region III Award for Excellence and the SME Outstanding Young Manufacturing
Engineer Award. He has held engineering positions with General Electric
and Caterpillar Tractor Company. He has also served on the faculties
of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and Texas
A& University where he held the Royce Wisenbaker Chair in Innovation.
