Designing for Automation - Management's View

The subject of design for automation is often discussed from a total system's perspective with little or no consideration for the organization within the production environment itself. This is due in part to the fact that “design for automation” is still being equated to the, “design for automated assembly.” The contention is that computer integrated manufacturing is the answer.

This paper contents that if, design for automation is to be truly successful then, fundamental changes must not only occur in plant modernization but also in both the attitude and organization within. It discusses the concept of computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) focusing on its multidimensional aspects, the automatic factory objectives and, the role(s) of human factors.