Studies on the compositions and architecture of the computer integrated manufacturing system

The authors suggest that a computer integrated manufacturing system (CIMS) should be composed of decision making, business and management, production design, and implementation of production through analyzing the different proposed definitions of CIMS, studying the various established or formed models, and dissecting the traditional factories thoroughly. After analyzing and studying the inputs and outputs and functions of CIMS, the paper gives an overall and flexible CIMS hierarchical architecture. Two kinds of CIMS architecture characteristics are emphasized. Relations among CIMS components are discussed in detail