The methodologies of system analysis and design for computer integrated manufacturing (CIM)

This paper investigates the methodologies of system analysis and design for a CIM system from the software engineer's point of view. The hypotheses of this research are: 1) particular methodologies are likely to be suitable for a specific application system, 2) a combination of methodologies generally can make analysis and design more complete, and 3) analysis of their characteristics can be used to select a methodology capable of providing system specifications for software development and system implementation.

To confirm the hypotheses, nine design methodologies are chosen to analyze five application systems. Each methodology and application system has its own characteristics. If the hypotheses are true, it will be possible to match the characteristics of the methodologies with corresponding characteristics of a particular system. Also, once the methodologies are used, they should yield information that provides a set of usable system specifications, and lead to a successful programming environment and implementation of the system.

The nine methodologies are SD (Structured Design), MSR (Meta Stepwise Refinement), WOD (Warnier-Orr Design), TDD (Top-Down Design), MJSD (Michael Jackson Structured Design), SADT (Structured Analysis and Design Technique), PSL/PSA (Problem Statement Language/Analyzer), HOS (Higher Order Software), and HIPO (Hierarchy-Input-Process-Output). The five application systems are an overall CIM system, shop floor control subsystem, product design subsystem, production planning/scheduling subsystem, and inventory control subsystem. The characteristics of the methodologies include: system complexity, data structures, data flow, functional structures, process flow, decoupling structure clash recognition, logical control, and data flow control. The characteristics of the application systems include: system complexity, functional structures, process flow, data structures, logical control, data flow control, cohesion, and coupling.

The contributions of this research include a technique for applying Information Technology to manufacturing information problems, and a set of rules for combination of different methodologies to improve the results of analysis and design efforts.