Abstract:
One of the most daunting challenges in Computer Integrated Manufacturing
(CIM) is bridging the gap between Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Computer
Aided Process Planning (CAPP). Past research into CAPP, considered one of the
most important and most complicated computer aided systems, resulted in a
wealth of knowledge but unresolved problems still exist. The actual CAPP
systems are considered large, complex, and monolithic, with limited extensibility,
low-level of integration with other applications, and high development and
maintenance costs. Consequently, this thesis develops a new framework that
focuses on a CAPP architecture for problem solving that manages complexity
through simplicity, and applies principles and strategies used in manufacturing
enterprise management, automation, robotics, and software engineering, that
finally leads to a system of systems which is human-centric, architectural-centric,
process-centric, and in line with the IT (Information Technology) infrastructure
trends. Thereafter, the framework is used to develop a number of software
applications that apply object-oriented programming as a new way of thinking
about solving CAPP problems and as a promising alternative to other techniques.
Then, the capabilities of the new approach are demonstrated through the use of
examples. The thesis ends with conclusions about the new CAPP approach, and
finally highlights its theoretical and practical implications.
