Computers in manufacturing: towards successful implementation of integrated automation system

Survival of industries depends on the integration of new technologies and business management processes. The objective of this research is to provide some important factors on the key technologies of information technology, managerial and communication issues that must be addressed for designing and implementing integrated CIM systems that lead to the concept of totally integrated automation system (IAS). The research also identifies a set of critical success factors for the development of totally integrated flexible automation systems. Success in implementation becomes a reality when the set goals and objectives stipulated by the adoption strategy are fully realized. The factors that are critical to the successful implementation of IAS have been identified and discussed, based on a review of literature, a field study that surveyed different types of manufacturing firms and series of interviews with a number of working professionals and managers in three automation and system components exhibitions held in Europe. The data collected on critical factors were then summarized and compared to four specific sets of critical success factors in related areas. These studies assess the impacts of the identified factors on the benefits of IAS and develop a conceptual framework for measuring success and highlight the relationship among the success factors in the development and implementation of IAS.