Ohio University Center for Adv Software Systems Integration

Advantages

The advantages of software systems integration are three fold:

First, SSI allows more rapid transfer of data among vendors, manufacturers, and customers thereby increasing communication and shortening lead times. The main advantage of shortened lead times, is greater flexibility to changes in the demand profile that need to be propagated through all aspects of the complicated customer-vendor network (rapid response).
Second, SSI allows system design errors to be discovered and eliminated or provided for prior to production, because the sub-system models that have been developed by separate vendors with separate software tools can be simulated and evaluated as a cohesive system. For example, the XFaST system, designed by an Ohio University researcher, is a patented distributed simulation system which integrates a wide variety of commercial simulation tools. Another planning system developed by Ohio University researchers, the Intelligent Machining Workstation, integrates three commercial software tools; a machining operations planning tool, a cost estimating tool and a numerical control machine simulator. The IMW helps engineers develop and validate the process plans and create more accurate cost estimates of machined parts. Other manufacturing software system integration projects include the integration of an Allen-Bradley programmable logic controller with the Quest simulation system and the integration of Factory Flow (with Quest). These projects enable design validation of two different aspects of factory design: PLC software validation and facilities design validation.
Third, SSI is the enabling technology needed achieve the flexible, real time control of manufacturing systems. For example, a weekly, optimal work scheduling program based on MRP data, current inventory, inventory shipment schedules, machine and labor availability, and the particular demand profile for the week would require a major SSI effort to integrate the various commercial software systems and legacy databases that perform these functions. However, the realization of this vision of the computer integrated enterprise will require aggressive research in SSI and related technologies.

Quick response, i.e., the rapid transition from design to manufacturing, is becoming a reality in some of the hard goods industry, and is progressing in others. A contributing factor was transitioning key manufacturing functions from a labor intensive to a capital intensive system. A capital intensive system is one that is flexible, yet not labor intensive. This has led to the development of flexible manufacturing cells, and other forms of flexible automation. The emphasis now is on product and manufacturing process design, and production is performed relatively quickly. Such an approach (increased flexibility close to the sales market) will enable small US manufacturers (less than 50 employees) to compete with foreign, low wage, labor intensive factories. And US manufacturers are moving in that direction. Further steps in automation are likely. As these steps are taken, SSI will play an increasingly greater role as the method of utilizing automation to its full capability and flexibility. Given open architecture strategies and the development of PDES, interface integration will play a lessor role, and interaction and transformational integration will dominate. It is these latter two integration strategies which, in the long run, will offer US manufacturers a competitive advantage and enable suppliers to deal with large fluctuations in the demand profile without long term disruptions in their operations. Through the Center for Advanced Software Systems Integration, Ohio University researchers are actively pursuing research in SSI and developing the technologies needed for creating and implementing "real world" integrated software systems.

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