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3D CIM model lacks human approach
book reviews Worthwhile review of robotics article considers the 'Piano movers' series by Schwartz, Sharir and Ariel Sheffi. This particular review is undertaken by John Canny. In a short four to five page article, the series of During the last decade there have been papers on the piano movers problem is many books published with the reviewed in terms of its goals, essential general title of robotics aimed at results and directions for future senior undergraduate or first year research. This review is a particularly graduate level classes. For example, nice contribution for readers who need two of the most widely used of these to gain an insight to a subfield of include Robot Manipulators by R P robotics without undertaking the Paul, and Robotics; Mechanics and challenge of reading the series of Control by J J Craig. Books such as papers from beginning to end. All of the subject matter is discussed these present the student entering the field of robotics with a comprehensive in this way, with the net result that the review of basic kinematics, dynamics book provides an indepth critique of and some control principles. Texts of many important subjects laid out for a this kind have been appearing at the rapid understanding of the essential rate of one or two a year and were issues. The book will be especially useful to graduate students entering beginning to look disappointingly similar to those by Craig and Paul. At the field of robotics and automation the same time, there have been books who are seeking a clear perspective on published for the more advanced the main issue in their subdiscipline. An especially welcome introduction practitioner on subjects such as robotic grasping, the social impacts of to the book is provided by Michael robotics, and specialized controls. Brady, who attacks the central quesWhile these have had their place in the tion of what constitutes a science of literature, they have usually been robotics and the main problems that aimed at a rather select group of research investigators. With this background, this new book offers the reader a rather fresh A New CIM Model by R Thacker. approach to the field. It comes at a Published by SME, USA. 1989. 92pp. particularly good time when the field $24.00 of robotics has lost a little of its initial charm, and when researchers and If more CEOs and senior managers planners are looking for some new read this book we might have CIM directions. The book takes an unusual which added to the bottom line rather approach of asking well known than subtracted from it! authors to review a small group of A New CIM Model aims to be a articles in a specific field. The book is blueprint for the CIM enterprise. The divided up into four main sections author has developed and built upon a where the material is presented in the graphical representation of CIM. In following areas: his own words: 'I built a 3D cone representing layers of management. l Programming, planning and learnThe result was a CD graphic illustraing. ting how management, technology 2 Sensing and perception. and functions work together to turn 3 Kinematics, dynamics and design. customer needs into ideas, contracts, 4 Motion and force control. actions and profitable products.' He As an illustration, the first review added: 'I have also broken down the
The Robotics Review by 0 Khatib, J J Crai9 and T Lozano-Perez (eds). Published by the M I T Press, USA. 1988. 411pp. £26.95
we now encounter. Brady groups his review article under the areas of sensing, vision, mobility, design, control, generic operations, reasoning, geometric reasoning and system integration; a comprehensive group of references is also given. Brady essentially creates his view of open problems in the field. Such an approach always has a somewhat personal bias, but this is a small criticism of an excellent review of a wide variety of subfields in robotics, again particularly useful to a graduate student entering the field. This book would represent one of the most worthwhile purchases in the field of robotics research today. It enables the educated reader and new research student to gain an indepth view critique of the subfields of robotics. The book is vastly superior to general handbooks on robotics where a wide variety of topics are covered but without focus on what the main issues are. It is also a good collection that represents the beginning of any library search on a topic. PAUL WRIGHT New York University, USA
3D CIM model lacks human approach
Vol 3 No 3 August 1990
functional foundations and managerial layers into finite elements of contribution. As a long term strategic tool, the CIM model can assist in evaluating and implementing short term tactics that support a long term CIM architecture.' Much of the book's content centres on a data bank or 'data vault'. Although I agree with much of what is said, I must question the statement that, 'the data vault contains the most valuable asset a corporation has information'. Surely a company's most valuable asset is the people within it? Although the importance of the human resource is alluded to several times, I feel that it should have been given greater emphasis. ... continued on page 188
187
book reviews ...(3D CIM model) continued One section, on 'Assessing the impact of adding an application', suggests getting the people concerned around a table to discuss causes and effects. Elsewhere the author states that progress will benefit if people feel they are a part of the CIM process and not victims of it. With all of this I heartily agree. However, the author's view remains firmly focused on 'the system' and how to support it rather than how the system can support the people. Although there is no direct reference to 'automating the present' (quite the reverse) one retains the feeling that philosophically the example enterprise is at, or tends towards, the status quo. The design department still does most, if not all, design, despite input from 'engineering'. There seems to be very little room for skilled shopfloor staff to suggest improved design criteria that could speed and ease production. A section on the CIM planning team was handled particularly well and illustrated the truth of everyone being a 'part of the solution'. The philosphy of 'not being hampered by the constraints of available technology' is good, though probably alien to the average CEO, whose life is dominated by what can be achieved or produced today. The emphasis on the integrated enterprise and the necessity of beginning with the concept of integration and then looking for the latest technology forms the basis for an excellent approach. Overall I found the book extremely interesting and potentially very useful. It is a shame that more books on CIM do not make such effective use of 3D modelling concepts. Although the importance of the human aspect of CIM is not stressed sufficiently, and supplementary information may be needed in certain areas, it is well worth buying as a reference. A N D R E W AINGER BICC Systems Development Centre, Hemel Hempstead, UK
188
Current topics in the theory/practice of planning and scheduling Production Planning, Scheduling and Inventory Control by F R Jacobs and V
ing production quantities. It begins with a review and comparison of Maybert. Published by the Industrial forecasting methods and how they are Engineerin9 and Management Press, implemented. The last article is an UK. 1986. 282pp. £39.95. example of an integrated production, distribution, and inventory-planning If you have an aversion to books of system. readings, Production Planning, SchedThe manufacturing planning system ulin9 and Inventory Control should section provides an overview of OPT, change your mind. This selection of and compares MRP with MRP-II. articles by Jacobs and Maybert is The Japanese production systems are excellent. This is the third in a series discussed by the Japanese production sponsored by the Institute of Indus- authority, Richard Schonberger. 'Protrial Engineers that has appeared over duction and order planning in a a period of years. Each one addresses flexible machining environment' is a topics of current concern. Jacobs and case study of an aerospace and defence Maybert identified the subjects of company. particular interest for manufacturers The section on production control to be Just-in-Time, pyramid forecast- focuses on and compares the coming, MRP and OPT. These, and many puterized MRP systems with the other, topics are covered in the context manual Kanban system. A technique, of flexible manufacturing. Q-lots, is used to determine lot sizes The editors have selected the with the objective of minimizing the flow articles to fit a well organized and time and work-in-process inventory. defined outline that includes distribuShopfloor control which has been tion planning, manufacturing plan- given little attention in recent years is ning, production control systems, recognized by articles about simulashop floor control systems, and tion, Just-in-Time, flexible manufacimplemented systems. turing, and the last a practical article Each section is prefaced by a survey on cycle counting for inventory written by the authors. These not only records. give the direction which the following The first four sections combine set of articles will take, but also serve some theory with practice, but the last as a survey of the subject to orient the section, implemented systems, is all reader to the present situation in each practice: practice exemplified by such of the subjects. successful companies as Black and The editors wisely introduce the Decker, Chrysler and IBM. series by an article, 'Relearning from The reader may object to the the old masters: lessons of the variation in print and format caused American system of manufacturing'. It by lifting the articles directly from the is especially true if the reader believes original rather than resetting the print. the phrase 'the past is prologue - study The cost of the book is in line with the past'. The author traces manufac- current book prices, but may be more turing, in six evolutionary steps, from than an individual will want to pay for the process standardizations of clock a paperbound book. The book is making and the development of job important enough, however, to be in shops to Ford's relentless drive to every university and factory library. coordinate production and reduce process inventories. J A M E S H GREENE Purdue University, The distribution planning section USA recognizes the importance of predict-
Computer-Integrated Manufacturing Systems
The Robotics Review by 0 Khatib, J J Crai9 and T Lozano-Perez (eds). Published by the M I T Press, USA. 1988. 411pp. £26.95
we now encounter. Brady groups his review article under the areas of sensing, vision, mobility, design, control, generic operations, reasoning, geometric reasoning and system integration; a comprehensive group of references is also given. Brady essentially creates his view of open problems in the field. Such an approach always has a somewhat personal bias, but this is a small criticism of an excellent review of a wide variety of subfields in robotics, again particularly useful to a graduate student entering the field. This book would represent one of the most worthwhile purchases in the field of robotics research today. It enables the educated reader and new research student to gain an indepth view critique of the subfields of robotics. The book is vastly superior to general handbooks on robotics where a wide variety of topics are covered but without focus on what the main issues are. It is also a good collection that represents the beginning of any library search on a topic. PAUL WRIGHT New York University, USA
3D CIM model lacks human approach
Vol 3 No 3 August 1990
functional foundations and managerial layers into finite elements of contribution. As a long term strategic tool, the CIM model can assist in evaluating and implementing short term tactics that support a long term CIM architecture.' Much of the book's content centres on a data bank or 'data vault'. Although I agree with much of what is said, I must question the statement that, 'the data vault contains the most valuable asset a corporation has information'. Surely a company's most valuable asset is the people within it? Although the importance of the human resource is alluded to several times, I feel that it should have been given greater emphasis. ... continued on page 188
187
book reviews ...(3D CIM model) continued One section, on 'Assessing the impact of adding an application', suggests getting the people concerned around a table to discuss causes and effects. Elsewhere the author states that progress will benefit if people feel they are a part of the CIM process and not victims of it. With all of this I heartily agree. However, the author's view remains firmly focused on 'the system' and how to support it rather than how the system can support the people. Although there is no direct reference to 'automating the present' (quite the reverse) one retains the feeling that philosophically the example enterprise is at, or tends towards, the status quo. The design department still does most, if not all, design, despite input from 'engineering'. There seems to be very little room for skilled shopfloor staff to suggest improved design criteria that could speed and ease production. A section on the CIM planning team was handled particularly well and illustrated the truth of everyone being a 'part of the solution'. The philosphy of 'not being hampered by the constraints of available technology' is good, though probably alien to the average CEO, whose life is dominated by what can be achieved or produced today. The emphasis on the integrated enterprise and the necessity of beginning with the concept of integration and then looking for the latest technology forms the basis for an excellent approach. Overall I found the book extremely interesting and potentially very useful. It is a shame that more books on CIM do not make such effective use of 3D modelling concepts. Although the importance of the human aspect of CIM is not stressed sufficiently, and supplementary information may be needed in certain areas, it is well worth buying as a reference. A N D R E W AINGER BICC Systems Development Centre, Hemel Hempstead, UK
188
Current topics in the theory/practice of planning and scheduling Production Planning, Scheduling and Inventory Control by F R Jacobs and V
ing production quantities. It begins with a review and comparison of Maybert. Published by the Industrial forecasting methods and how they are Engineerin9 and Management Press, implemented. The last article is an UK. 1986. 282pp. £39.95. example of an integrated production, distribution, and inventory-planning If you have an aversion to books of system. readings, Production Planning, SchedThe manufacturing planning system ulin9 and Inventory Control should section provides an overview of OPT, change your mind. This selection of and compares MRP with MRP-II. articles by Jacobs and Maybert is The Japanese production systems are excellent. This is the third in a series discussed by the Japanese production sponsored by the Institute of Indus- authority, Richard Schonberger. 'Protrial Engineers that has appeared over duction and order planning in a a period of years. Each one addresses flexible machining environment' is a topics of current concern. Jacobs and case study of an aerospace and defence Maybert identified the subjects of company. particular interest for manufacturers The section on production control to be Just-in-Time, pyramid forecast- focuses on and compares the coming, MRP and OPT. These, and many puterized MRP systems with the other, topics are covered in the context manual Kanban system. A technique, of flexible manufacturing. Q-lots, is used to determine lot sizes The editors have selected the with the objective of minimizing the flow articles to fit a well organized and time and work-in-process inventory. defined outline that includes distribuShopfloor control which has been tion planning, manufacturing plan- given little attention in recent years is ning, production control systems, recognized by articles about simulashop floor control systems, and tion, Just-in-Time, flexible manufacimplemented systems. turing, and the last a practical article Each section is prefaced by a survey on cycle counting for inventory written by the authors. These not only records. give the direction which the following The first four sections combine set of articles will take, but also serve some theory with practice, but the last as a survey of the subject to orient the section, implemented systems, is all reader to the present situation in each practice: practice exemplified by such of the subjects. successful companies as Black and The editors wisely introduce the Decker, Chrysler and IBM. series by an article, 'Relearning from The reader may object to the the old masters: lessons of the variation in print and format caused American system of manufacturing'. It by lifting the articles directly from the is especially true if the reader believes original rather than resetting the print. the phrase 'the past is prologue - study The cost of the book is in line with the past'. The author traces manufac- current book prices, but may be more turing, in six evolutionary steps, from than an individual will want to pay for the process standardizations of clock a paperbound book. The book is making and the development of job important enough, however, to be in shops to Ford's relentless drive to every university and factory library. coordinate production and reduce process inventories. J A M E S H GREENE Purdue University, The distribution planning section USA recognizes the importance of predict-
Computer-Integrated Manufacturing Systems