The diversification of user needs, a shortage of manpower, and rapid technical innovation have caused the active introduction of FA/CIM as business strategy. FA/CIM has been developed from "production integration" to "production and sales integration" or "integration with management functions"; enterprises are eager to structure CIM suitable for current changes in business environment.
This paper describes recent trends in FA/CIM and Fuji Electric's developments.

CIM is very effective integrated system to hold priority in business competition. To structure FA/CIM, Fuji Electric has developed system integration technology in which we thoroughly review the way that a manufacturing process and related business should be and integrate the manufacturing, business and information systems while improving and automatizing workshop processes and Physical distribution.
This paper introduces a method of planning and structuring CIM viewing the total work organization of an enterprise from the sides, of material, men, and information.

With the downsizing of computers, open systems interconnection, and the development of network technology, personal computers and workstations are changing the configuration of computer systems from centralized processing to distributed processing. Similarly, FA personal computers and FA workstations have come into effective use in structuring CIM and total FA systems and there is much demand for distributed processing systems. This paper introduces mini CIM, a distributed processing system with FA personal computers and FA workstations as the core.

The development of automation in the process industry aims at linkage with the computer-controlled production level. Process automation has been progressing from continuous-process automation using distributed control systems and discrete-process factory automation using programmable logic controllers to inclusive EIC-integrated systems. Computers are required to have advanced control functions and production management functions.
Fuji Electric's MICREX systems are playing the core of CIM structured in the processes.

This paper introduces Fuji Electric's AI developments in CIM: domain AI tools and their application to actual systems and a new AI tool, AIMAX. Also it describes the connection of object-oriented technology and OR technology to develop AIMAX to an intelligent production control system. A production control system in automobile assembly lines and off-site control system of a petroleum plant are cited as examples.

This paper describes recent physical distribution technology mainly for production. Its main functions are storage and transport between manufacturing processes, and a physical distribution information system is as important as materials handling equipment. Three points for structuring the system are (1) to raise the automation level of storage transport, (2) to make materials and information correspond to each other,(3) to be a high-flexibility system.
Inspection items in structuring the system are selection of optimum hardware, proper allotment of control functions, simplified control, and minimized information input.

Machining works have come to adopt flexible, multikind and small-quantity production lines because consumer needs were diversifield; therefore, they strongly demand organically combined systems of high-grade automation and information control toward CIM. Fuji Electric supplied advanced-function transport and handling systems with high-speed autoloaders as the core mainly to the automobile industry and won favorable comments. This paper introduces the technical trend and applications of recent autoloaders.

This paper introduces two types of useful equipment for structuring CIM.
One is a data carrier system. It is characterized in that it can store data of several-hundred Kbytes enabling repetitive writing and is resistant to dust and optical noise.
The other is pixel code system. It can contain a 20-digitidentication code on a space as small as a 4-mm square and is suitable for controlling assembly lines for small printed-circuit boards.

Laser markers and vision systems have come into wide use as FA/CIM components in industrial fields.
This paper introduces the features and applications in FA and CIM concerning laser markers, and as for vision systems, the types and features, application fields, CIM items they are used for and examples of application are described.

Robot technology is essential for FA/CIM. This paper introduces its applications.
A system in which a robot assembles parts fed by pallets and three kinds of parts feeders used there are cited as an example of assembly process robot technology.
Besides, a wet station for 8-inch silicon wafer in a semiconductor manufacturing process, an automatic non destructive inspection system for aircraft, and a manipulator for construction of over-head distribution lines are described.

The food processing and delivery center integrated processing and succeeding distribution to save manpower and reduce total cost. We built a system that integrated men, materials, and information closely by mechanization of processing and picking, automation of wrapping, packing, and sorting for delivery, and combination with receiving and placing orders. The example added mechanization of food material processing, weighing, packing and pricing, and realized computerized buyers' order business and digital picking. The MRP method popular in production control was applied to the ordering of farm and marine products.

FA and CIM have been applied widely in the medicine industry for several years. Fuji Electric has developed and supplied a computer system for a medicine manufacturing line. Considerations when the system was structured are described.
The paper introduces characteristic knowledge required by the medicine industry such as "GMP" and "validation" and also a "file server" system to realize a distributed, integrated system easily and economically.

This paper introduces a case of a machine assembly shop. The manufacturing control system has functions of basic information management, production scheduling, day's assembly scheduling, material requirements calculation, progress control, and work programming. The physical distribution system consists of an automated warehouse, automated guided vehicles, and a drivenassembly line. The features are (1) A hierarchical system of production management, manufacturing control and physical distribution control, (2) Daily production planning and unit progress control, (3) Layout suitable for distribution and flexible handling system.

Information on received orders and on building-site working drawings is written to the shop CAD/CAM system, which prepares manufacturing drawings and NC machining data automatically. This data base is common to the production control system; hence, the CAD/CAM system and production control system are integrated into a system. This system is connected with divisions of sales, development and design, and head office administration by the whole company common data base and network enabling the whole company CIM. As the result, short lead time, reduced stock, and saving manpower in design and management were realized.

In the keen competition of enterprises in the field of electrical devices, manufacturers aim to develop advanced-function products and high-efficiency production systems (CIM) to meet diversified user needs, short lead time, etc.
Fukiage and Otawara Factories, Fuji Electric's main factories for electrical devices, completed a CIM shop for magnetic switches and a CIM shop for twin breakers while developing products and CIM at the same time followed by many excellent results. This paper introduces the process of CIM structuring, an outline of the CIM shops, the production information system, and so forth.

Vending machines sell foods to many and unspecified persons, and design is regarded as important as performance. These vending machines of high value added include wide-ranging works from development to shipment. Through improvement of efficiency in these works, the CAD/CAM system achieves high performance, high quality, low cost and short lead time by common use and unified management of design information, that is, source information. This paper outlines the CAD/CAM system.