Introductory Overview

This introductory contribution gives an extended survey of the concept of Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) and its contents. It concentrates mainly on the information aspects of CIM and stresses the relationships and connections between the technological and managerial activities in the manufacturing enterprise. Analytical and modelling points of view are considered with the aim of methodological support of CIM systems design. The article contains also many examples of existing CIM (sub-)systems.