Experiences with knowledge-base and large database integration

The authors discuss the integration of several knowledge bases and a large database in the context of a manufacturing simulation. This simulation is referred to as the work load model. The knowledge bases are network data structures providing inheritance and rule-based definition/execution. The simulation represents the production activities at numerous individual facilities and is used to determine if a production schedule can be satisfied. The simulation is supplied with data from a large relational database that includes production facility characteristics as well as component information. The authors also illustrate the problems inherent in the exchange of data among a group of loosely coupled knowledge bases and traditional databases. It is demonstrated that the integration of large databases, knowledge bases, and object-oriented simulations is feasible and provides very attractive benefits such as modularity, flexibility, and execution efficiency