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A review of computer applications in manufacturing operation

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 International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering
Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal, Volume 5, Issue 5, May 2015)
A Review of Computer Applications in Manufacturing
Operation
Ali Shaheem1, Ahmed A. M Idris2, Hsen Abdalanbi Alazrq3, Masood Alheblow4, Faieza Abdul Aziz5
1,2,3,4,5
University Putra Malaysia, Malaysia
Abstract— The use of computers in the manufacturing
sector has increased in recent years due to various reasons.
One of the main reasons for this is the high demand for
manufactured products and the requirement of on time
delivery of quality products. Most of the manufacturers have
turned to either Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM)
or Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) to improve
efficiency, quality and reduce cost, lead and process time of
the product. Computers are today applied in all the aspects of
manufacturing operations which includes planning, control,
scheduling, designing, distribution, processing, marketing,
production etc. This paper reviews the application of
computers in major manufacturing businesses and discusses
the features and importance by using various journal papers
on the subject.
Keywords-- Computer applications, Designing, Integrated
manufacturing system, Scheduling.
I. INTRODUCTION
There are several types of manufacturing companies
worldwide that uses computers in their businesses. Most of
the industrial companies concentrate on some sort of
manufacturing as their primary function. The main aim of
each of these manufacturing companies is to provide timely
and quality products or service to their customers.
Customers are the kings in the modern business and much
attention is given to keep them satisfied and happy. Hence
all the manufacturing facilities turn to computer aided
manufacturing or automated production to improve the
speed and efficiency of the operation. Computers play a
huge role in making this a reality. Hence starting from the
planning up to the distribution and gaining customer
feedback, computers are involved in each of the outlined
processes.
Computers when applied in the production system, aids
by increasing the production volume, improving the quality
of the product and helping to identify errors and in
troubleshooting to name a few. Hence industries involved
with mass production greatly invest in developing a
computer integrated system in their workplace [1].
1
Computer Integrated Manufacturing as a methodology
serves to enhance the execution of a manufacturing or
assembling process by incorporating different financial
zones of processing, both regarding material and data flow
by using computer applications. To gain more insight into
the significance of CIM, an endeavor has been made in this
paper to survey the literature available on the execution of
CIM with a goal to gather more understanding into the
combination and versatility issues [2].
The rest of the paper discusses the background, issues,
literature review and application of computers in different
types of manufacturing. The paper is concluded with
writers‟ opinion on the subject.
II. BACKGROUND
The essential target of manufacturing business is to
convert raw materials into quality products that are sought
out in the business sector and which can be sold at fixed
costs that make profit for the organization. Lead time or
time to market has been for the most part agreed upon to be
a standout amongst the most critical keys for
accomplishment in the manufacturing sector [3].
All the manufacturing associations face a dilemma on
several occasions in trying to deliver their product on time
and to keep up with the rising demand for the product. To
tackle these issues, organizations have created a PC
Integrated Manufacturing system to coordinate all sectors
in a manufacturing factory that needs to coordinate
properly in a timely manner. This includes production
planning, distribution and production. The structure will
gauge and screen and incorporate machine, instrument, and
work-in-advancement following, dispatching and
recording, stock, material etc. to ensure unhindered
production and distribution of the product [4].
An applied model has been produced to represent the
key issues of incorporation and versatility of CIM. The
model has been clarified by reviewed perceptions [5]. It is
the utilization of computer innovation to coordinate the
capacities of a manufacturing venture that is on the rise
today.
 International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering
Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal, Volume 5, Issue 5, May 2015)
CIM brings about robotization of the data stream and
gives immediate interfaces to the physical and HR of the
endeavor. In spite of the fact that computer application is
the normally utilized term for such a framework, it might
be all the more accurately called a Computer Integrated
Enterprise [6].
III. MAJOR ISSUES FACED WITH COMPUTER APPLICATIONS
IN MANUFACTURING
Today's manufacturing firms are compelled to work as
open operational frameworks. In such frameworks,
propelled operational manufacturing technologies are
mixed with current data and communication technologies
to incorporate and direct operational assets, procedures, and
exercises in order to create a profitable business. The
problem to address is to come up with proper computer
integrated manufacturing that is affordable and does not
cause product price to hike and of course a system that can
be trusted. Nevertheless, to make the computer application
fully effective, it needs full collaboration between all
functions of the enterprise, top executives, staff and all
authorities [7].
Another major issue companies face in becoming
computer integrated includes the greater investment costs
involved in the transformation. Hence a thorough analysis
must be conducted before transforming into a fully
computer integrated manufacturing system to minimize
loss and multiply profit in a sustainable manner. Cost
analysis is considered as one of the most critical issues in
Computer Integrated Manufacturing system [8].
Apart from investment cost, the complexity of the
manufacturing process that arises by the greater application
of computers in a firm is also considered as a major issue to
deal with. Continuous training, creating awareness and
better understanding of the complex system in terms of
technical know-how is important in overcoming these
hurdles [9].
IV. LITERATURE REVIEW
This section of the document is a review of recent
literature which will serve as references for the study. It
will explore the overview of computer applications in
manufacturing operations, some of the areas it is being
applied to, and the benefits of its usage in manufacturing
operations.
2
V. OVERVIEW OF COMPUTER APPLICATIONS IN
MANUFACTURING
Computerization hopes to increase quality cycle
opportunities by combining data and computerization
headways. This will build up the association's capacities
and develop overall collaboration by giving unending
access to information. To accomplish this obliges
phenomenal keenness with respect to the calling change of
motorization specialists, more impact of existing
mechanized workplaces and associates, and progression of
best practices in movement and upkeep [10].
European Computer Integrated Manufacturing
Architecture launched the computer coordinated
assembling open framework building design (CIMOSA)
ideas. As examined by Sergarra, the propelled data
innovation (AIT) guide for the European fabricating
industry activity was dispatched by Daimler Benz, for
mechanical incorporation through the advancement of
combination stages, and the use of bland arranged
undertaking (re)engineering techniques [11].
Since advanced computers are discrete gadgets that
screen a procedure by taking examples at discrete cases of
time, the utilization of computer innovation in the control
capacity required a control hypothesis in light of the
inspecting of input data. This hypothesis started to emerge
amid World War II, when researchers were chipping away
at radar frameworks. A radar framework is a
characteristically tested framework in view of the time lag
between progressive identification of article position. The
first imperative hypothetical deal with examined
frameworks started to show up around this time [12].
Hubert Roth, (2013), adds that, the coordination of
computer and assembling process additionally started in the
late 1940s. The primary business machines did not utilize
the idea of input. They were modified utilizing a punched
tape that contained guidelines for coordinating the
movement of the engines driving the tomahawks of the
machine instrument. Starting from a known enrollment
point, the bed of a processing machine would be taken
through different positions underneath the milling
apparatus in accordance with the directions on the tape.
There was no constant input of positional information;
however a legitimate starting enlistment of the work piece,
consolidated with right directions, would bring about the
right part being produced. This methodology was termed
'numerical control' and it introduced a lot of interest about
the potential control in fabrication process [13].
 International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering
Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal, Volume 5, Issue 5, May 2015)
VI. TYPES OF COMPUTER AUTOMATION
Categorically there are three main types of
computerization in the industry. Namely they are fixed,
programmable and flexible automation. Fixed automation,
also known as “hard automation,” refers to an
automated production facility in which the sequence of
processing operations is fixed by the equipment
configuration [14]. In programmable automation, the
generation hardware is outlined with the capacity to change
the succession of operations to oblige diverse item designs.
The operation succession is controlled by a system, which
is a pool of guidelines coded so that the framework can
read and translate them [15]. Flexible computerization is
prepared to do delivering of a mixed bag of items with
practically no time lost for changeovers from one item to
the following. There is no creation time lost while
reinventing the framework furthermore, altering the
physical setup (tooling, installations, machine setting).
Consequently, the framework can deliver various blend and
timetables of items, rather than requiring that they made
separate clusters [16].
VII. IMPLIMENTATION OF COMPUTER APPLICATION IN
MANUFACTURING
Computers have been used in most of the manufacturing
businesses. Below are the major players in the
manufacturing sector that has been revolutionized by the
application of computers in general.
A. Computer automation in food manufacturing industry
The food industry is facing escalating universal rivalry
and consumer demands. These require new advancements
and expanded mechanization in the business. This is due to
end of significantly repetitive and tasks, which causes
tiresomeness and strain to laborers [17].
Computers enable better excellence mechanism required
due to buyer complexity, monitoring tagging requests, and
slim quality limits, the removal of disconnected quality
regulator due to the need for more fast adjustment of
deviances from procedure and quality
standards/specifications, and the detection of foreign and
toxin materials in the food [18].
Encounters, and potential commitment, and future
advancement of CIM coordination encourages the
correspondence between distinctive territories and also the
imparting of assembling data information in the food
industry.
3
Hence application of computers in this industry during
manufacturing operation is vital in maintaining the quality
of the product [19].
B. Use of computer advancements in Textile Industry
Material designs are the first works of the designers.
Lowlife helps them to picture and see their creative outline
in last structure without delivering any specimens watch. In
some cases, the clients give thoughts for planning as
indicated by their specific prerequisite. These are as painted
craftsmanship or fabric tests and at times film negatives.
The material planners, with the assistance of computer
aided design (CAD), transform them into workable designs.
For this, the example is checked with the assistance of
either scanners or advanced cams and afterward they are
altered to acquire the last design. Hence in textile industry,
CAD is of vital importance in making the designs that
attract customers [20].
C. Utilization of computer advances in Steel Industry
Steel is one of the fundamental building pieces of the
advanced world. Autos, machines, extensions, oil pipelines,
what‟s more, structures, are all made with steel. While steel
assembling has existed for a considerable length of time,
the methodology for making steel keeps on advancing [21].
The application of computers in the steel industry in
general has simplified very complex processes and made it
easy and safe for the workers to deal with hazardous
workplaces [22].
D. Use of computer innovations in Pharmaceutical Industry
The application of computers has aided one of the key
difficulties confronting pharmaceutical organizations by
decreasing the time to market and expense of merchandise
of their items whilst keeping on agreeing and surpass
stringent administrative conditions. Utilization of
Computer Supported Design advances has made a turning
point in the method for decreasing these difficulties for
pharmaceutical and just in time manufacturing has been
made possible by the application of computers in the
manufacturing operation [23].
VIII. IMPORTANCE OF IMPLEMENTING COMPUTER
APPLICATION IN MANUFACTURING
The use of computers in the manufacturing industry has
revolutionized the industry by making automation and
computer integrated and computer aided manufacturing a
reality. It has a pervasive and significant impact on the
industry [24].
 International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering
Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal, Volume 5, Issue 5, May 2015)
It reduces the portion of unimportant activities, increase
productivity through efficient contemplation of client
desires, reduce variability, reduce the sequence time,
streamline by lessening the amount of phases and
fragments, increase productivity flexibility, raises process
transparency, emphasize regulator on the comprehensive
procedures, build nonstop enhancement into the process,
stabilize flow progress with change enhancement, build
persistent transformation into the process and reduce
human labor and improve product quality and reduce
process time [25].
IX. CONCLUSION
Having reviewed different articles on the application of
computers in the manufacturing operation, it can be
concluded that the advancements that we see in today‟s
developing world was made possible by the computer
integrated manufacturing processes. Computers have
revolutionized the manufacturing industry and made
manufacturing approaches such as just in time
manufacturing, flexible manufacturing, and other
automated complex processes possible. Computer
application has improved the efficiency of the processes,
improved the quality and reduced the cycle time of the
manufacturing process making customers happy and
satisfied.
Although computer applications and high level
automation and integration is costly, complex and requires
high investment, manufacturing industries benefit from the
high production volume, low production cost and timely
delivery of products due to computer applications in the
operation. Hence it can be concluded that in order to
survive in the advancing world of manufacturing, one has
to turn to computer integrated or computer aided
manufacturing to have a prosperous future in the industry.
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432 Importance of Information Technology in Manufacturing
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