The proceedings of a congress concerning Open Communications, the basis for cost effective Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM), are presented. The congress was sponsored by the Commission of the European Communities, DG XIII (Telecommunications, Information Industries and Innovation), at Stuttgart''s Annual Machine Tool Fair, 4-7 September 1990. The book provides an overview of international initiatives on implementing open communications in manufacturing/engineering environments, including available communication products on the market. Topics covered encompass industrial needs for open systems for manufacturing, pilot implementations in the USA, Japan and Europe, and introduction to MMS (Manufacturing Message Specification) and NMT (Network Management). Technological solutions that enable the implementation of real multi-vendor environments and allow the full integration from design to manufacture or from order to distribution are also explained. Furthermore, the book highlights the work done in the ESPRIT flagship project, "Communication Network for Manufacturing Applications". During the project''s lifetime several experimental and industrial pilot sites were commissioned and these are explained in detail. The book is unique in that it describes both the business strategy and the technological approach. It is aimed at decision makers and people that need to have an up-to-date technical understanding and awareness of future trends in manufacturing systems. Production Engineers, Systems Engineers, Technical Managers, Business Managers, EDP Staff, and Academics will find it useful.
