BUSINESSWEEK ONLINE : AUGUST 7, 2000 ISSUE
SPECIAL REPORT Leading Lights in Intelligent Manufacturing The Intelligent Manufacturing Systems effort brings together corporate, government, and academic researchers to tackle some of the thorniest problems facing manufacturers. Here are six of the most promising IMS projects: HARMONY: Aims to spark innovations that will smooth communications among small and large manufacturers. Project leader: The EU DIGITAL DIE DESIGN: Investigates new methods of forming sheet metal, based on a better understanding of how metals deform and how defects occur. Project leader: Japan HOLONIC MANUFACTURING: Treats factories as ecosystems. Will develop flexible, adaptive manufacturing modules that function on an assembly line like ''plug and play'' components in the PC world. Project leader: Australia NEXT-GENERATION MANUFACTURING: Exploits 3-D computer models to improve manufacturing processes. Another goal is to design new types of global manufacturing operations. Project Leader: The U.S. HUMAN-MACHINE COEXISTENCE: Uses ergonomic and statistical techniques to determine the best modes of interaction among humans and intelligent production machinery. Project Leader: Japan THERMAL ELUTRIATION: A method of separating substances through heat treatment, this effort develops technology for recovering and recycling plastics and metals--especially steel, copper, and aluminum--from electrical household appliances and communication gear. Project Leader: Japan SOURCE: IMS. (FOR THE COMPLETE LIST OF ONGOING, COMPLETED, AND PROPOSED PROJECTS, SEE WWW.IMS.ORG.) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ BACK TO TOP					RELATED ITEMS Thinking Machines TABLE: Let There Be More Light TABLE: A Quick Primer Plant Manager in a Box Software That Plows through Possibilities Agents of Change on the Factory Floor A Global Think Tank Targets the Factory TABLE: Leading Lights in Intelligent Manufacturing Manufacturing Masters Its ABCs INTERACT E-Mail to Business Week Online

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