Don E. Libes

The Integrated Manufacturing Data Administration System (IMDAS) - An Overview

Abstract Automated manufacturing requires sharing of data among control, sensory and administrative processes. Since these processes are invariably distributed over many different computer systems, we claim that a distributed data system is necessary. Unlike most extant data systems, a manufacturing enterprise requires support for: diverse computer systems, data systems and databases; real-lime data access; and integration of new systems into a running complex. This paper briefly discusses these issues and describes a prototype implementation of a distributed data system that addresses them.

An analysis and approach to using existing ontological systems for applications in manufacturing

This paper reports on the results of an analysis of existing ontological systems to determine which is most appropriate for the manufacturing domain. In particular, this involved the exploration of efforts that are studying both the uses of ontologies in the general sense and those that are using ontologies for domain-specific purposes. Eleven ontological systems were analyzed and, using a set of analysis criteria, it was determined that the Cyc (Cyc is a registered trademark of Cycorp Inc.) system was most appropriate for modeling concepts in the manufacturing domain. After the analysis is described, examples are given to show how manufacturing concepts could be modeled in the Cyc system. This work is part of a larger project whose objective is to move closer to the ultimate goal of seamless manufacturing systems integration using the principle behind ontological engineering to unambiguously define domain-specific concepts. The output of this work will be a taxonomy of manufacturing terms and concepts along with formal definitions of exactly what each of those terms and concepts mean and how they interrelate.

Model-driven integration using existing models

Models can describe business transactions in terms of business entities and help automate some systems integration tasks. The joint action model describes a new business transaction motivating systems integration.

Modeling dynamic surfaces with octrees

Abstract Past uses of octrees have been for representation of static objects. We discuss extensions necessary to model dynamic surfaces. One particularly important aspect of this is the ability to represent expanding surfaces that grow to be arbitrarily large. Our enhanced octree does exactly this, and models contraction as well. The ability to represent dynamic surfaces allows us to apply octrees to new problems which could not previously have been modeled with static octrees. One such problem is the entropy of random surfaces . Using dynamic octrees, we produced a simulation of self-avoiding random surfaces using Monte Carlo techniques.

Kibitz: connecting multiple interactive programs together

Expect is a programming language for automating interactive programs. Recently, people have begun using Expect to connect multiple interactive programs together, allowing for new classes of applications. With some basic building blocks and a little scripting, it is possible to build such applications quickly.

Enabling Smart Manufacturing Technologies for Decision-Making Support

Smart manufacturing combines advanced manufacturing capabilities and digital technologies throughout the product lifecycle. These technologies can provide decision-making support to manufacturers through improved monitoring, analysis, modeling, and simulation that generate more and better intelligence about manufacturing systems. However, challenges and barriers have impeded the adoption of smart manufacturing technologies. To begin to address this need, this paper defines requirements for data-driven decision making in manufacturing based on a generalized description of decision making. Using these requirements, we then focus on identifying key barriers that prevent the development and use of data-driven decision making in industry as well as examples of technologies and standards that have the potential to overcome these barriers. The goal of this research is to promote a common understanding among the manufacturing community that can enable standardization efforts and innovation needed to continue adoption and use of smart manufacturing technologies.

Evaluating reasoning systems

A review of the literature on evaluating reasoning systems reveals that it is a very broad area with wide variation in depth and breadth of research on metrics and tests. This is the second of a two-part series that begins to bring order to the area by categorizing reasoning systems according to their capabilities. These can be used as a basis for evaluating and testing reasoning systems claiming to be in each category. Capabilities are analyzed along the dimensions of representation languages and inference. The first part introduces information metrology, model theory, and inference to facilitate understanding of the reasoning categories presented. It also groups representation languages by their relation to first-order logic, and model-theoretic properties, such as soundness and completeness. This part examines inference procedures, dividing them into deduction, induction, abduction, and analogical reasoning. It explains the subcategories and characteristics of each, and concludes with recommendations for future work.

Automation and testing of character-graphic programs

This paper describes a technique that allows automation and testing of character‐graphic programs using existing public‐domain tools. Specifically, Tcl, Tk, and Expect are augmented with a terminal emulator in order to build a screen representation in memory. This screen can be queried in a high‐level way and the interaction can be further controlled based on the screen representation.

Interoperability for virtual manufacturing systems

As manufacturing systems are often costly to develop and operate, simulation technology has been demonstrated to be an effective tool for improving manufacturing system design and the efficiency of manufacturing operations and maintenance. However, effectively and efficiently using simulation remains an important issue in the manufacturing industry. One of the principal reasons is the difficulty in processing, organising, and making use of the production-related information about the manufacturing system to be simulated. The difficulty stemmed from no standard representation for such data, making the effort to input data such as product attributes, processing times, and material quantity requirements into simulations complex, time consuming, and error prone. The core manufacturing simulation data (CMSD) standards, SISO-STD-008-2010 and SISO-STD-008-01-2012, specifically address this data representation issue. CMSD enables the import/export of many different types of factory data into computer simulations and other manufacturing systems. This paper describes the motivation for creating CMSD, standardisation efforts for CMSD, and related research efforts. This paper also describes how CMSD could be used as an integration mechanism in a sustainable manufacturing test-bed being developed at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The test-bed will be a virtual manufacturing environment to support the testing and validation of sustainability metrics, assessment methods, and tools for use in manufacturing.

Tcl/Tk-based agents for mail and news notification

Two agent implementations are described—one for mail notification and one for news notification. Both agents are implemented using Tcl. This paper provides a brief history and perspective of similar agents. Included are experiences using Tcl as an agent‐implementation language, and comparisons of the results to similar agents. Also described are some new techniques of interest to Tcl programmers.