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A.C. Caputo: Faculty of Engineering, University of L'Aquila, Monteluco, L'Aquila, Italy
G. Cardarelli: Faculty of Engineering, University of L'Aquila, Monteluco, L'Aquila, Italy
M. Palumbo: Faculty of Engineering, University of L'Aquila, Monteluco, L'Aquila, Italy
P.M. Pelagagge: Faculty of Engineering, University of L'Aquila, Monteluco, L'Aquila, Italy
1. Introduction
Computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) technology provides companies with an excellent opportunity in order to compete in the present global context. The actual situation also favours small companies in developing and implementing CIM applications, due to many concurrent factors (de Venuto et al., 1994; Gupta and Brennan, 1995):
- availability of low cost hardware and software tools, with better performance and quality, makes CIM solutions accessible even to limited budget companies;
- technical improvement in the fields of networking and personal computers allows for reliable distributed information systems, providing the opportunity to use an affordable step-by-step approach while safeguarding integrity;
- increased awareness, at management level, of the competitive potential offered by CIM solutions;
- actual turbulence of markets requires small companies to continuously increase performance, such as production flexibility, timely purchasing and delivery, process and product quality, in order to avoid the risk of quickly being overshadowed by more farsighted competitors.
As a consequence, the introduction of CIM technologies may represent, particularly for small companies, one of the most promising strategies to acquire and maintain a competitive edge, from product development to marketing and distribution.
In this paper a case study is presented concerning CIM introduction in a small company (Italpneumatica Sud) working in the area of pneumatic components with the trademark SMC (one of the leading producers in the world). Like many other small-medium-sized companies, Italpneumatica Sud has to solve integration problems on a limited budget.
The strategic requirements to be met are as follows:
- need to guarantee customer service by reducing lead times: this involves timely information, accurate delivery times and a reliable logistic system;
- need to guarantee product and process quality: this requires accurate operations and process control to make quality certification possible (EN 29000);
- need to guarantee the setting up of a safe and timely corporate information system able to supply each user with online data required for operational and decision-making procedures.
The approach taken to develop the CIM application is based...