A machinist monitors a machine tool 

 retrofitted with a personal computer 

 controller. The machine is located in 

 NIST's Shop of the 90s where manufac- 

 turers can learn how to use open sys- 

 tem integration technology and low-cost 

 automation technigues to improve pro- 

 ductivity and product quality. 



NIST will support expanded programs in advanced man- 

 ufacturing systems integration technologies; develop- 

 ment and testing of prototype components and interface 

 specifications for manufacturing systems; application of 

 high performance computing and networking technolo- 

 gies to integrate design and production processes; and 

 testbeds for achieving cost-effective application of 

 advanced manufacturing systems and networks. 



FY 1993 Accomplishments and FY 1994 Plans 



Systems Integration for Manufacturing Applications 



Beginning in FY 1994, NIST will establish an Advanced 

 Manufacturing Systems and Networking Testbed to sup- 

 port research and development in high performance 

 manufacturing systems and to test high performance 

 computer and networking hardware and software in a 

 manufacturing environment. The testbed will serve as a 

 demonstration site for use by industrial technology sup- 

 pliers and users, and to assist industry in the develop- 

 ment and implementation of voluntary consensus stan- 

 dards. Research and testing will be conducted at the 

 NIST testbed as well as at testbeds funded through the 

 NIST Advanced Technology Program. A manufacturing 

 systems environment will be developed to support the 

 integration of advanced manufacturing systems and net- 

 working software and products. A standards-based data 

 exchange effort for computer integrated manufacturing 

 will focus on improving data exchange among computer 

 aided design, process, and manufacturing activities. 

 Prototype systems and interface specifications will be 

 communicated to appropriate standards organizations. 

 Results will be made available to U.S. industry through 

 workshops, training materials, electronic data reposito- 

 ries, and pre-commercial prototype systems that can be 

 installed by potential vendors for test and evaluation. 

 One role of advanced computing technology in manufac- 

 turing process modeling and simulation is described on 

 pages 150-151 in the Case Studies section. 



Networking and Information Infrastructure 



NIST performance evaluation activities include iiic&sure- 

 ment and characterization of the impact of software pro- 



103 



