Advanced Information Technologies for Industrial Material Flow Systems

1. The Nature of Information in Material Flow Systems.- Managing Information Complexity in Material Flow Systems.- Information Dynamics for Computer Integrated Product Realization.- Some Interactions of Information and Control in Integrated Automation Systems.- 2. Data and Knowledge Methodologies in Material Flow Systems.- Distributed, Intelligent Information System for Automated, Integrated Manufacturing Systems.- Applying Distributed Artificial Intelligence to Flexible Manufacturing.- Combining Predicate Transition Nets and Rule Based Systems for Planning, Programming and Exception Handling in Manufacturing Process Control.- A Knowledge-Based System for Production Equipment Selection and Layout.- Specifications for Knowledge Representation in Intellligent Systems Layout Design Environments.- 3. Intelligent Robotics and Communications.- The Impact of Advances in Information Technology on Interactive Robotics.- The Karlsruhe Autonomous Mobile Assembly Robot.- Knowledge Representation and Integration of Robot Assembly Applications.- Results of the Development of a Manipulator with a Very Large Reach.- Global Path Planning Approaches for Material Movements in a Worksite.- The Need for a Generic Framework for Systems Integration.- 4. Modeling Issues of Material Flow Functions.- Some Issues in Controlling Integrated WIP Material Handling Systems.- Tool Management and Its Implications for Material Flow.- Issues in Design and Control of AS/RS.- Knowledge Models for the Design and Management of Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems.- Guided Vehicle Systems: Information/Control System Implications of Alternative Design and Operation Strategies.- 5. Integration Models and Techniques.- Materials Handling and Storage in Logistics Systems.- GRAI Approach to Designing and Controlling Advanced Manufacturing System in CIM Environment.- LLAMA: A Layered Logical Architecture for Material Administration.- Simulation Techology for the Design and Scheduling of Material Handling and Storage Systems.- Knowledge Based Approaches for Production Control: An Assessment.- 6. Implementation and Management Issues.- Information Processing in Material Flow System Management.- CIM System Development for Small to Medium Size Discrete-Parts Manufacturing Companies.- An Approach to Solve Workshop Real Time Scheduling Problems.- Cybernetics Approach to Material Flow Control.- 7. Research Panel Reports.