Systems based approaches to CIM: questions of method, competitiveness and profitability

Particular attention is paid to the nature of systems engineering and its applicability to the design of manufacturing systems, especially computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) systems. The article centres around the concept that there are two distinct systems-based approaches that can be used. The first approach can be described as `systems engineering in the narrow sense´, and the second as `systems engineering in the broad sense´. The two techniques are very different and lead to different types of manufacturing philosophies. These two approaches are briefly discussed and the author demonstrates that the dominant paradigm, systems engineering in the narrow sense, is out of step with the realities of manufacturing conditions, and that systems engineering is not therefore of much assistance to the majority of European manufacturing organisation, i.e. small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs) engaged in batch manufacturing activities. The current competitive pressures in manufacturing industries need to be outlined in order to set the scene for the discussion of the relevance of the two systems engineering approaches