CORDIS Archive
This page has been archived. It will no longer be updated.
Validating OSA in Industrial CIM Environments
The CIM-OSA framework for the integration and control of manufacturing systems has been put into practice in real manufacturing environments
The CIM Open Systems Architecture (CIM-OSA), defined in esprit project AMICE, offers a common reference model for users and vendors of computer-integrated manufacturing (CIM) components. VOICE II extends the work done under the VOICE project, validating the CIM-OSA framework against industry needs through application in a number of industries: car assembly, machine-tool manufacture and aluminium casting. Existing enterprise models of these three industries have been integrated with the prototype CIM-OSA infrastructure. By addressing the specific Enterprise Integration needs of the industrial partners, the exercise has proved the feasibility of modelling manufacturing processes to achieve consistent IT-based information and control infrastructures. By incorporating the prototype models and services developed under VOICE, it has been possible to develop complete enterprise models for the industry sectors involved.
Enterprise Integration is recognised as a key factor in reducing costs and improving quality in manufacturing, but experience of implementing this in a real manufacturing environment is not widespread. As well as developing a new integration platform and a set of tools for a variety of information tasks, VOICE II demonstrates tangible results in real manufacturing enterprises. The efficient reorganisation of manufacturing processes, for instance in allowing a move from sequential to concurrent cellular structures, have produced substantial gains. Cuts of up to 40% have been achieved in order handling, lead- and delivery-times.
GTVOICE, the VOICE enterprise monitoring tool, is the first tool on the market that implements ENV40003 (Framework for Enterprise Modelling). It supports definition of requirements, design specification and implementation scenarios to generate 
process control structures from the model.
Planning, programming, monitoring and manufacturing control are supported by the Integration Infrastructure Services, which provides an integration platform for distributed applications. Applications in distributed, cellularised manufacturing systems can be scaled and efficiently configured.
Renault have used CIM-OSA to integrate their Troubleshooting aid (for supporting breakdown repair at the plant) with hierarchically-organised technical data libraries. TRAUB AG has found real improvements from using the system to co-ordinate increasing use of specialised tools for making individually-designed machine parts. The VOICE II exercise is helping ELVAL SA to identify possible aluminium production improvements through detailed modelling. In addition to these industrial applications, the results will be exploited by the research laboratory partners in providing consultancy services.
tel +49-303-900-6145 -- fax +49-303-911-037
Research Area Integration in Manufacturing
Project VOICE II
Related Results COMPRESS; FLEXQUAR; CIM-REFLEX; SCOPES
Keywords CIM; CIM-OSA; process management;
| Project Participants |
|---|
| Fraunhofer-IPK DE |
| ISMCM FR |
| Kernforschungszentrum Karlsruhe DE |
| PRISM SA GR |
| Renault RNUR FR |
| TNO-TPD-TU Delft NL |
| TRAUB AG DE |
| Zenon SA GR |
home page | Results Zone | IT Solutions | Application Areas | Research Areas | Integration into Manufacturing The URL for this page is /esprit/src/results/res_area/iim/iim26.htm
This page was last updated on 22 November 1996, and is maintained by esprit@dg3.cec.be