Objective The objective of this project was to develop strategies and methods for the economic evaluation of CIM systems, supported by a set of tools known as C-BAT. The tools were tailored to the needs of small manufacturing enterprises and can be ported to a range of widely available personal computers (IBM AT-compatibles using MS-DOS). The tools can accommodate the effects of different national investment programmes, different timescales for implementation, and varying levels of industrial sophistication. The programme was as follows: -gather data and prepare C-BAT provisional specification -analyse requirements and complete specification -develop and verify methods and toolkits -implement C-BAT at demonstrator site and at industrial sites in the partners' member states. The cost benefit analysis toolkit (C-BAT) is a documented technique and 8 software tools for the economic evaluation of computer integrated manufactur (CIM) and information technology (IT) concepts. The software tools run on a personal computer (PC) with enhanced graphics adaptor (EGA) graphics. The technique supports a top down, systematic approach to the economic evaluation of computer integrated manufacture (CIM) and information tchnology (IT), from strategic conceptual goals to individual investment projects. The tools provide decision support without users losing their understanding of why and how they need to change to meet business objectives.The objective of this project was to develop strategies and methods for the economic evaluation of computer integrated manufacture (CIM) systems, supported by a set of tools. The tools were tailored to the needs of small manufacturing enterprises and can be ported to a range of widely available personal computers. The tools can accommodate the effects of different national investment programmes, different timescales for implementation, and varying levels of industrial sophistication. Requirements were evaluated by meeting over 50 CIM users and potential users in their member states. A survey of existing methods of CIM investment evaluation was completed before a provisional specification was generated. The specification included a suitable methodology, supported by a set of tools. The tools were designed, programmed and developed. By facilitating the analysis of alternative approaches, taking into account both direct and indirect effects, better investment decisions will be reached and risks will be reduced.The partners evaluated requirements by meeting over 50 CIM users and potential users in their member states. A survey of existing methods of CIM investment evaluation was completed before a provisional specification was generated. The specification included a suitable methodology, supported by a set of tools. The tools were designed, programmed and developed at the partners' sites. C-BAT provides a powerful tool for SMEs wishing to introduce CIM concepts. By facilitating the analysis of alternative approaches, taking into account both direct and indirect effects, better investment decisions will be reached and risks will be reduced.The final workshop, Economic Evaluation of Investment toward CIM, held at Leuven, Belgium in April 1989, was attended by nearly 100 European delegates. All partners are now using the methods and tools for education, training and consultancy. Exploitation CIMAF has transferred the rights to disseminate and use C-BAT and its documentation to Instituto Superior Tecnico/ITEC, to whom funds have been allocated by DGXXIII to promulgate C-BAT in Portugal, mainly amongst SMEs. Fields of science natural sciencescomputer and information sciencessoftware 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 Advanced Manufacturing Technology Research Institute (AMTRI) EU contribution No data Address Hulley Road SK10 2NE Macclesfield United Kingdom See on map Total cost No data Participants (5) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all CIMAF - CENTRO DE COOPERACAO DOS INDUSTRIAIS DE MAQUINAS E FERRAMENTAS Portugal EU contribution No data Address RUA MANUEL PINTO DE AZEVEDO 439 4100 PORTO See on map Total cost No data CRIF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING Belgium EU contribution No data Address CELESTIJNENLAAN 3001 HEVERLEE See on map Total cost No data DANMARKS TEKNISKE HOJSKOLE Denmark EU contribution No data Address BYGNING 344 & 345 2800 LYNGBY See on map Total cost No data MENTEC INTERNATIONAL LTD Ireland EU contribution No data Address POTTERY ROAD CO DUBLIN X DUN LOAGHAIRE See on map Total cost No data Universität Bremen Germany EU contribution No data Address Klagenfurter Straße Betriebshof 28359 Bremen See on map Total cost No data