Computer integrated manufacturing: A special action area of ESPRIT

ESPRIT (The European Strategic Programme for Research and Development into Information Technology) is a programme supported by the European Community, with the aim of improving the competitivity of European industry. The programme is midway through its first five-year phase, and is beginning to show results both in tangible form and in terms of successful transnational collaboration. Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) is one of the application areas selected for special action. The paper discusses the strategic issues of CIM, and reports on specific relevant activity within ESPRIT.