Integrated Control of Factory Operations

Fully automated manufacturing -- complete control from order entry to delivery -- has been a dream since the first production line was put into operation. We can come very close today. No new technologies are called for. Instead, all we need to do is integrate already existing elements, linking subsystems of control into a unified whole. In fact, this has actually been done. This is the ultimate in Computer-Aided Manufacturing. CAM has been defined as the use of computer equipment to in any way assist the operation and management of manufacturing operations. This includes product planning and design, material management, fabrication, production and quality control.