Abstract :
Presents a method for the design of computer integrated manufacturing systems, based on an innovative systems architecture to support a holistic approach. The system should demonstrate high visibility of customer need and focus on satisfying that need. A manufacturing enterprise can be considered as a set of goal-seeking subsystems, which interact in purposeful way to meet customer demand. The holonic paradigm uses the most successful systems known, i.e. biological systems, as the metaphor for designing computer systems. Biological systems consist of many cooperating autonomous subsystems working towards the ultimate goal of survival-not unlike the manufacturing enterprise. A manufacturing enterprise and its CIM system can be considered as a network of semi-autonomous subsystems, which communicate with each other to pass on instructions or pass back information. Each of these subsystems is working to satisfy the supply=demand equation
