ABSTRACT

This chapter argues that the development of future factory structures is not only a question of new Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) components and systems but is also influenced by a company's organizational concepts and structural conditions. In many cases the use of CIM-technologies is characterized by a kind of pioneer situation in which the technology suppliers adapt the systems' actual design to meet specific customer requirements. Although in the case of more centralistic-deterministic systems one cannot say that the user companies are bound to certain forms of organizing manufacturing and work, it is undeniable that the logic inherent in such solutions will influence the decisions concerning the implementation process within the company. More differentiated observation and analysis is necessary to establish in detail how the problems mentioned here could be solved in the light of the different traditions and conditions in education and employment in European countries so that favourable conditions will be created for development of future factory structures.