Object-oriented Software for Manufacturing Systems

I must confess that I stumbled upon the object-oriented (00) world view during my explorations into the world of artificial intelligence (AI) in search of a new solution to the problem of building computer-integrated manufacturing systems (CIM). In 00 computing, I found the constructs to model the manufacturing enterprise in terms of information, a resource that is common to all activities in an organization. It offered a level of modularity, and the coupling/binding neces­ sary for fostering integration without placing undue restrictions on what the individual applications can do. The implications of 00 computing are more extensive than just being a vehicle for manufacturing applications. Leaders in the field such as Brad Cox see it introducing a paradigm shift that will change our world gradually, but as radically as the Industrial Revolution changed manufacturing. However, it must be borne in mind that simply using an object-oriented language or environment does not, in itself, ensure success in one's applications. It requires a different way of thinking, design discipline, techniques, and tools to exploit what the technology has to offer. In other words, it calls for a paradigm shift (as defined by Kuhn in The Structure of Scientific Revolution, a classic text in the history of science).

Contenu

1 Introduction.- 1.1 Objects and object-oriented software.- 1.2 Objective and target audience of the book.- 1.3 Organization of the book.- 1.4 Conclusion.- References.- One Conceptual Background.- 2 Object-oriented software systems: Concepts.- 2.1 Introduction.- 2.2 Key concepts.- 2.3 Object communication.- 2.4 Comparison with structured analysis and design.- 2.5 Software life cycle benefits.- 2.6 Prototyping and software evolution.- 2.7 Software reuse.- 2.8 Potential limitations.- 2.9 Conclusion.- References.- 3 Object-oriented software: Relevance to manufacturing.- 3.1 Introduction.- 3.2 Software development aspects of CIM.- 3.3 Communication issues.- 3.4 Integration problems.- 3.5 Conclusion.- References.- Summary: Part One.- Two Design and Implementation Techniques.- 4 Towards an object-oriented architecture for CIM systems.- 4.1 Introduction.- 4.2 A conceptual framework.- 4.3 Description of the modules.- 4.4 Communication between modules (and the plant).- 4.5 Special concerns.- 4.6 Implementation perspective.- 4.7 Working with existing applications and future extensions.- 4.8 Related work of interest.- 4.9 Limitations.- 4.10 Conclusion.- References.- 5 Prototyping object systems and reusable object libraries.- 5.1 Introduction.- 5.2 Review of existing design methods.- 5.3 Rationale for our approach.- 5.4 Our design approach.- 5.5 An example manufacturing facility.- 5.6 Object-oriented library for modeling the facility.- 5.7 State transition diagrams.- 5.8 Conclusion.- References.- 6 Object-oriented databases.- 6.1 Needs of the engineering/manufacturing domains.- 6.2 Towards an object model for database management.- 6.3 Object identity.- 6.4 Schema evolution.- 6.5 Versioning.- 6.6 Storage.- 6.7 Querying.- 6.8 Commercial OODMBS.- 6.9 Conclusion.- References.- 7 Comparing object-oriented programming languages.- 7.1 Introduction.- 7.2 Smalltalk.- 7.3 Object-oriented extensions to Lisp.- 7.4 Object-oriented extensions to C.- 7.5 C++.- 7.6 Objective-C.- 7.7 Comparing Objective-C and C++.- 7.8 Other object-oriented programming languages.- 7.9 Summary and conclusion.- References.- Summary: Part Two.- Three Manufacturing Applications.- 8 FlowStream: An object-oriented plant-floor management system.- 8.1 FlowStream as a plant-floor management system.- 8.2 Rationale for object-oriented development.- 8.3 The FlowStream object architecture.- 8.4 Assessing the object-oriented approach.- 8.5 Summary.- Reference.- 9 OOPS in real-time control applications.- 9.1 Introduction.- 9.2 The kitting cell.- 9.3 The glass line.- 9.4 Conclusion.- References.- Summary: Part Three.- Four Management and Organizational Issues.- 10 Management issues in adopting object-oriented technology.- 10.1 Introduction.- 10.2 Object-oriented software development.- 10.3 Managing reusability.- 10.4 Resourcing and staffing.- 10.5 Supplier management.- 10.6 Planning and budgeting.- 10.7 Conclusion.- References.- 11 Concluding remarks.- 11.1 Where is the OO industry headed?.- 11.2 Growth in the manufacturing area.- 11.3 Final words.- References.- Appendix A: OO resources Paul Worhach.