DEVELOPMENT OF INTEGRATED MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS

The productive operation of a new manufacturing system must first of all be preceded by its efficient design and integration. The design of new manufacturing systems requires an in depth knowledge of current operational paradigms and their application to manufacturing. The integration of new manufacturing systems requires tools and techniques which take cognisance of the social as well as technical environment. This paper looks at an approach to the integration of advanced manufacturing systems, which utilizes the latest developments in social and technical design methods, and in particular the application of structured methodologies and sociotechnical design techniques to the development of next generation manufacturing processes.