Objective The objective of this project was to develop a prototype manufacturing system comprising integral CAD, CAM and CAP packages in which the roles of human operators were optimised. The system was implemented at user sites. The flexibility and robustness of the human-centred approach was proved by demonstrating machine/cell programming, planning and scheduling in a mixed human-oriented/conventional automation environment. A human centred computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) system has been developed, using distributed personal computers (PC) on a factory wide ETHERNET, for small to medium size batch manufacturing enterprises. The prototype is targeted on the shop floor and encompasses the computer aided design (CAD), computer aided manufacturing (CAM), computer aided production (CAP), computer aided engineering (CAE), storage, mail, data collection, condition monitoring, quality and inspection needs of most manufacturing islands or cells. Maximum use has been made of existing software packages and only when absolutely necessary have programs been written specifically for the prototype. Significant changes are needed in the manufacturing organisation, culture, training and finance sides of the company when such human centred systems are installed for the first time.The objective of this project was to develop a prototype manufacturing system comprising integral computer aided design (CAD), computer aided manufacture (CAM) and computer aided production (CAP) packages in which the roles of human operators were optimized. The system was implementated at user sites. The flexibility and robustness of the human centred approach was proved by demonstrating machine/cell programming, planning and scheduling in a mixed human oriented/conventional automation environment.There were 3 CAM demonstrations. The first demonstrated a human centred turning cell comprising turning centres, gantry work handlers and a cell controller. The second was developed to demonstrate human centred production principles within a small cell manufacturing electrical connectors. The third demonstrated CAP packages providing basic shop floor cell scheduling capabilities. A sketching module was developed by the CAD group which enables sketches to be hand drawn, discussed and finalized, and the data transmitted electronically to a CAD system.There were three CAM demonstrations: one at Rolls-Royce's Leavesden plant, demonstrating a human-centred turning cell comprising turning centres, gantry work handlers and a cell controller; the second, at the Selectro factory near Portsmouth, was developed by BICC to demonstrate human-centred production principles within a small cell manufacturing electrical connectors; and the third was at BITZ on the campus of the University of Bremen, where CAP packages were demonstrated providing basic shop floor cell scheduling capabilities. A sketching module was developed by the CAD group which enables sketches to be hand-drawn, discussed and finalised, and the data transmitted electronically to a CAD system. The sketching module was demonstrated at the BITZ demonstration site. By employing a human-centred approach, as opposed to the "total automation" approach, areas have been identified where the use and development of human skills within a CIM environment can be more effective than the conventional automation approach. Exploitation BICC, Krupp Atlas Elektronik, Rolls-Royce, R D Projects, NEH Engineering and BIBA expect to market a range of products and services based on the work of this project during 1990. Fields of science natural sciencescomputer and information sciencessoftwaresocial sciencessociologyindustrial relationsautomation Programme(s) FP1-ESPRIT 1 - European programme (EEC) for research and development in information technologies (ESPRIT), 1984-1988 Topic(s) Data not available Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme Data not available Coordinator GREATER LONDON ENTERPRISE Address 63-67 newington causeway SE1 6BD London United Kingdom See on map EU contribution € 0,00 Participants (9) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all BICC plc United Kingdom EU contribution € 0,00 Address Quantum house maylands avenue HP2 4SJ Hemel hempstead See on map DANMARKS TEKNISKE HOJSKOLE Denmark EU contribution € 0,00 Address Bygning 344 & 345 2800 Lyngby See on map DANSK TEKNOLOGISK INSTITUT Denmark EU contribution € 0,00 Address Gregersensvej p.o. box 141 2630 Taastrup See on map Krupp Atlas Elektronik GmbH Germany EU contribution € 0,00 Address Sebaldsbrücker heerstraße 235 28309 Bremen See on map NEH TECHNOLOGY A/S Denmark EU contribution € 0,00 Address Princessegade 1422 Koebenhavn See on map Rolls Royce plc United Kingdom EU contribution € 0,00 Address WD2 7BZ Watford See on map UNIVERSITAET BREMEN Germany EU contribution € 0,00 Address Bibliothekstrasse 1 28334 Bremen See on map University of Liverpool United Kingdom EU contribution € 0,00 Address Brownlow hill street L69 3BX Liverpool See on map University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology United Kingdom EU contribution € 0,00 Address Sackville street M60 1QD Manchester See on map
