Hierarchical and Supply Chain Planning describes the application of hierarchical planning techniques to all major functional areas of supply chain planning, including production, distribution, warehousing, transportation, inventory management, forecasting and performance management.

The book reviews well-known, original hierarchical production planning techniques and implementations dating back several decades and numerous more current hierarchical planning methods and applications covering an array of supply chain activities. A number of novel hierarchical planning...

Human Intelligence-Based Manufacturing is part of the Advanced Manufacturing Series edited by Professor D.T. Pham of the University of Wales, College of Cardiff. The Flexibility Computerised-Integrated Manufacturing Structure (FCIMS) is a significant innovation in the field of the production science and technology which combines rapid manufacture with the requirements of human society. Due to greater market diversification a new approach is needed as a response to this new manufacturing environment. International expert contributions deal with aspects of this response and...

Intelligent Manufacturing is part of the Advanced Manufacturing Series edited by Professor D.T. Pham of the University of Wales, College of Cardiff. This publication exposes the major issues associated with programming environments for manufacturing and illustrates specific software systems developed for industrial application. Clear and concise statements are made on the state-of-the-art and recent trends in manufacturing languages and programming environments. The book discusses the diverse approaches that are currently under consideration in North America and Europe....

Manufacturers worldwide are faced with unprecedented challenges from international competition, changing production processes and technologies, shorter production life-cycles, market globalization and environmental requirements. Fundamental to meeting these challenges is the understanding and control of information across all stages of the Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) process. Modern Manufacturing presents the state of the art in the information-oriented aspects of CIM and Intelligent Manufacturing Systems. Particular emphasis is placed on the impact of new software engineering...

Fixtures are crucial to new manufacturing techniques and largely dictate the level of flexibility a manufacturing system can achieve. Advanced Fixture Design for FMS provides a systematic basis for the selection and design of fixturing systems. It gives a review of the current state of the art of flexible and reconfigurable fixturing systems. Recent developments in design methodology using CAD are analysed in depth. Fixture design is seen as an inseparable part of process planning. The primary objective of a fixture system is to ensure that the part being manufactured can be made...

A Systems Approach to AMT Development is part of the Advanced Manufacturing Series edited by Professor Pham of the University of Wales, College of Cardiff. Its subject is the acquisition of Advanced Manufacturing Technology (AMT) and its introduction into a production environment. The topic is approached from various aspects such as long-term future performance which is closely related to pay back periods. The authors point out the significance impact which the introduction of AMT has made to international competitiveness. There is also discussing of the importance of learning...

Automation is a predominant objective in the development of modern and advanced manufacturing production. Automatic Supervision in Manufacturing (ASM) addresses unavoidable disturbances occurring during production. Its application results in the unmanned functioning of manufacturing systems through comprehensive and reliable supervision. Automatic Supervision in Manufacturing is a collection of contributions written by specialists in the field from Europe and the USA. It deals with the concept of automatic supervision, the classification of supervisory...