Computer-based diagnostics for integrated manufacturing systems

Results of a research project which focused on the efficient detection and diagnosis of process faults in integrated manufacturing systems are described. This project attempted to investigate theoretical advancements in the development of a hybrid reasoning scheme for manufacturing diagnostics and to pursue applications to actual manufacturing diagnostic problems. The final implementation goal is a stand-alone computer-based diagnostic workstation which can interact with a programmable logic controller to give diagnostic advice to operating and maintenance personnel. An initial implementation of the diagnostics system has been created using an object-oriented knowledge-engineering environment on a Symbolics 3640 workstation