Integrated Business Environment: An Implementation of CIM in a Small to Medium Enterprise

Howard, Stuart Kevin Pleace (1992) Integrated Business Environment: An Implementation of CIM in a Small to Medium Enterprise. MSc(R) thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

This thesis documents the Computer Integrated Engineering philosophy and concepts adopted by Fortune Engineering Limited during a three year period commencing August 88. Management at Fortune Engineering had identified one major bottleneck that would inhibit the growth of the company. This bottleneck was the engineering drawing office. Fortune's business involved a great number of special parts and products. As the business expanded so did the number of personnel required to design these special products. The company's profits were diminishing and action had to be taken to reverse this trend. Senior management made the decision to embark on a Computer Integrated Engineering project. This was seen as the only way for the company to develop and grow in the 1990's which would enable them to compete in the European and Eastern markets. CIM was seen as an all embracing philosophy which would encompass all areas of the company's activities from customer sales to design, scheduling and, eventual manufacture. It was foreseen that CIM would bring a number of direct and indirect benefits to the company: Control of design and manufacturing data. Reduced product design lead times. Reduced development times of new products. Certification to BS5750. Increased utilisation of key production processes. Increased customer service. Fortune approached CIM in a unique way which has rarely been achieved in any other manufacturing company, of similar size. When the decision was made to adopt CIM it was agreed not to use computers in an ad-hoc manner to produce very efficient 'islands of automation' but to produce an Integrated Business Environment (IBE). This Integrated Business Environment was not only achieved by new technologies such client/server processing, relational data bases and networks but by an all embracing integrated approach which also covers detailed methods and procedures. Fortune's policy was one of continuous software development where all software would be written in-house by members of the Computer Systems Department. Fortune realised that the software may have reduced functionality and may be slower than proprietory software but the emphasis was placed more on total integration. The author was directly responsible for the development and installation of all Manufacturing Shop Floor systems. These systems include; CNC Programming System Direct Numerical Control System Tool Management System Production Scheduling System.

• Item Type: Thesis (MSc(R))
• Qualification Level: Masters
• Additional Information: Adviser: Andreas Tsiotsis
• Keywords: Industrial engineering, Operations research
• Date of Award: 1992
• Depositing User: Enlighten Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:1992-74786
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 27 Sep 2019 16:20
• Last Modified: 27 Sep 2019 16:20
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/74786