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Technology

Over the years many third party software companies have developed packages that accumulate data, automate or enhance specific operations in the engineering or manufacturing environments. Unfortunately, bridging the gaps between these packages were difficult, technically impossible or cost prohibitive in many cases. For many years we have had MRP II/ERP, Computer Aided Design (CAD), Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) and Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) tools. These tools, along with the dramatic drop in hardware and networking cost in recent years, caused the proliferation of computers throughout the enterprise. The emergence and convergence of new technologies are allowing (sometimes demanding) us to develop new processes and streamline old ones. As the industry matures it becomes necessary to clarify some of the old acronyms and unfortunately add some new ones. Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) is exactly what it implies -- the integration of computers in manufacturing, not necessarily the equipment they are attached to or the software that resides in them. CIM provides the hardware foundation for Software Integrated Manufacturing (SIM). CIM and SIM are the building blocks for a seamless, highly efficient Integrated Data Flow Management (IDFM) system. In turn, all of these elements enable an integrated collaborative process. We are now seeing within the new Collaborative Manufacturing Execution Systems (cMES) software category the emergence of Integrated-Software Aided Manufacturing (I-SAM) packages. These packages provide a cost- effective, scalable and integrated platform on which to build a collaborative process. The best of breed tools use the latest technologies such as Microsoft's Distributed interNet Application (DNA) architecture to build three-tiered applications that reduce network traffic, increase security and are data exchange friendly.

Using Windows DNA, a developer is able to build or extend existing applications to combine the power and richness of the PC, the robustness of client/server computing, and the universal reach and global communications capabilities of the Internet.

The heart of Windows DNA is the integration of Web and client/server application development models through the Component Object Model (COM). Windows DNA defines a common set of services, including components, Dynamic HTML, Web browser and server, scripting, transactions, message queuing, security, directory, database and data access, systems management, and user interface. These services are exposed in a unified way through COM, enabling applications to take advantage of them easily. In short, these packages provide scalability, flexibility and interoperability that fit well in an engineering, manufacturing and IT environment.

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