Background
IMS is a multilateral scheme and provides a framework for industry and academia to co-operate throughout the full innovation cycle and to identify partners world-wide. In an ever more integrated global market, the competition is not between companies but between global supply chains and business networks. As supply chains and networks are no longer regional but global, international collaboration under IMS provides opportunities to develop global solutions.
1989: Intelligent Manufacturing Systems grows out of an initiative from Japan proposed that year by Professor Hiroyuki Yoshikawa, then President of the University of Tokyo. The vision was for a global system of industrial cooperation and technology sharing in cooperative projects for the benefit of mankind and the particular benefit of partners involved.
1995: The formal IMS programme begins in 1995 following a two-year feasibility study (1992-94). The initial members are: Australia, Canada, EU and Norway, Japan, the US.
1997: Korea becomes a full member.
April 2005: The first 10-year phase of IMS ends successfully (
pdf).
May 2005: All IMS members (except Canada and the EU) renew their commitment to IMS for at least 5 more years (with the possibility to renew).
April 2006: Australia decides to leave IMS.
March 2007: The European Union decides to continue involvement in IMS (Council Decision 5749/07 of 22 March 2007).
Sept. 2007: IMS decides on a new strategy (based on the Manufacturing Technology Platforms scheme) simplifying the considerably the process of setting up new IMS projects.