This paper presents a holistic approach to manage the forces of change and to build up production systems with a view at worldclass competitiveness. Through continuous and short-term improvements, it is possible to avoid non-value adding activities. Sensors and actors help to machine materials in safe processes close to the limits of performance and quality. Autonomous manufacturing cells and segments can be controlled by integrated manufacturing or assembly control systems. Not least, new information and communication technologies open up the way to a new generation of CIM, which is more decentralized and specialized, able to follow and support the evolutionary development of production system. Controlling the complexity of production systems has become a factor of competition. High increases in efficiency cannot be achieved by means of generalistic strategies and global orientation towards technology, but by means of practicability and orientation towards direct value adding processes in the process chain. Labour and technology have to be harmonized in new forms of organization. Maintaining the competitiveness absolutely requires fast realization of every piece of knowledge in engineering and organization. The two EU-ESPRIT projects AICIME and AITIME are presenting the ideal platform to follow this direction in a bottom-up approach by using international expertise within a multiskilled team.
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