Work Area: Models and Theory for CIM
Keywords CIM, shop-floor control, enterprise-wide modelling, manufacturing metrics
Start Date: 1 August 92 / Duration: 36 months / Status: running
[ participants / contact ]
Abstract CIMMOD investigates various approaches to the modelling of CIM systems. It aims to clarify the aims, scope, progress, experiences and plans of these approaches. CIMMOD's results will formulate key research areas for future efforts in the modelling or testing of CIM systems.
Many projects have been working on CIM modelling architectures. Commercial initiatives such as MAP have not yet been very successful. Precompetitive initiatives such as STEP, CIM-OSA, ANSA are still under development, but there is much confusion on scope, aim, time horizon, progress and results. The scientific community has a natural basis for an in depth investigation of certain aspects of CIM modelling. However, there is no debate on the overall programme of research to be set up with respect to CIM modelling in Europe. CIMMOD tries to stimulate such a debate.
This Working Group is first investigating the nature of the activities which are currently under development. It will then move on to discuss questions which remain unaddressed by current activities in CIM modelling, the role of people in CIM systems, validation of modelling approaches, the scientific status of modelling approaches, and the required validation actions. Finally the Working Group will prepare the ground for future CIM modelling Basic Research proposals. CIMMOD members have first investigated the CIM modelling approaches which are now under development. These approaches have been compared in terms of their purposes in a first workshop. Three other workshops will be held to address questions of modelling human behaviour (or avoiding such modelling); testing or validating modelling approaches; the scientific status of modelling approaches; and the role of the scientific community.
CIMMOD has had two regular meetings after a first kick-off meeting, in close mutual collaboration with the Working Group CIMDEV. The two regular meetings have resulted in working papers about the purpose of modelling and about the role of humans in modelled CIM-systems. These working conferences have resulted in new research proposals (collected under the title PROMTHEUS), and in a number of new papers by members in new collaborating teams. Some collaboration has been established with other groups interested in CIM-modelling, especially in the US. CIMMOD wraps up the first year by finalising papers in a special issue of Computers in Industry.
CIMMOD members and many other parties are now involved in the development of CIM modelling methods, languages, and tools without a clear understanding of the modelling purpose, role and humans, validation possibilities or of the scientific status of their efforts. The quality of the research work in Europe and the applicability of the results will be greatly enhanced by the debate that CIMMOD will facilitate.
A special issue of the Journal "Computers in Industry" is in preparation.
Because CIMMOD is still in its first year, there has been no dissemination of results outside the Working Group except for the contacts with the National Science Foundation (USA). Current activities for future information dissemination are:
Coordinator
Technische Universiteit Eindhoven - NL
Dept. of Industrial Engineering and Management Science
PO Box 513
NL - 5600 MB EINDHOVEN
Participants
Cap Gemini Sesa - B
BIBA - D
Universität Karlsruhe - D
Danmarks Tekniske Hojskole - DK
INRIA-Le Chesnay - F
Université de Bordeaux-GRAI - F
University of Patras - GR
Politecnico di Torino - I
University College Galway - IRL
SINTEF - N
Helsinki University of Technology - SF
UMIST - UK
Dr. J.C. Wortmann
tel +31/40 47 2290
fax +31/40 45 1275
CIMMOD - 7400, August 1994
please address enquiries to the ESPRIT Information Desk
html version of synopsis by Nick Cook