Layout design for flexible machining systems in FCIPS and convertibility to CPS module in smart factory

Although being not in accordance with the original concept proposed in the “Industrie 4.0”, the smart factory has been gradually applied to the practice. In contrast, we can observe that nearly all discourses, suggestions and discussions have been carried out without considering the convertibility of flexible manufacturing in FCIPS (Flexible Computer-Integrated Production Structure), which is the utmost leading facility within the industrial nation, to the CPS (Cyber Physical Systems) module in the smart factory. Admitting the powerful potentiality of the smart factory, at crucial issue is to discuss to what extent and how the technological and human resources so far accumulated in FCIPS are available for the smart factory. This paper proposes, first, the conceptual drawing of the smart factory on the basis of the concept of FCIPS, and then suggests the similarity of both the concepts. In fact, the smart factory consists of cloud computing, information communication network and CPS modules, whereas FCIPS consists of CIM, information communication network and a group of FMCs (Flexible Manufacturing Cells). Then, the paper describes the present and near future perspectives of the CPS module and FMC, especially placing the stress on machining, and asserts the convertibility of FMC for “One-off Production with Keen Machining Cost” to the CPS module. Finally, the paper summarizes the research and engineering development subjects in FCIPS and the smart factory necessary to be investigated hereafter together with detailing one leading subject, i.e. methodology to incorporate the human-intelligence into CIM.