35 th International Conference on Computers and Industrial Engineering 1759 A FRAMEWORK FOR A COMPUTER AIDED DESIGN SYSTEM FOR PRODUCT ORIENTED MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS Sílvio do Carmo Silva 1 , Anabela Carvalho Alves 2 , Miguel Costa 3 Universidade do Minho ( 1 ) Campus de Gualtar, 4700-057 Braga, Portugal Phone: +351 253 604745 Fax: +351 253 604741 e-mail: scarmo@dps.uminho.pt ( 2 ) Campus de Azurém, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal Phone: +351 253 510344 (7363) Fax: +351 253 510343 e-mail: anabela@dps.uminho.pt ( 3 ) Campus de Gualtar, 4700-057 Braga, Portugal e-mail: costamiguel@bragatel.pt Abstract In this paper we present a framework and an associated support system for the design of Product Oriented Manufacturing Systems (POMS). This includes the characterization and description of the structure and components of the support system, including database, user interface and knowledge base. The framework components are integrated into an organized system called CADS_POMS (Computer Aided Design System for POMS). Keywords: Production System Design, Computer Aided Design System Introduction It is recognized that the best performing manufacturing systems are those designed to suit specific manufacturing requirements of a product or a family of similar products, i.e. are Product Oriented Manufacturing Systems (POMS). The manufacturing system concept totally opposed to this is the one organized in functional departments, i.e. Functional Oriented Manufacturing Systems (FOMS) and, therefore theoretically able to manufacture any product variety. These systems tend to have poor system performance and provide poor customer service. In the past, the decisions in favour of POMS were easier to take than today. Usually due to large production quantities, stable demand environment and reduced competition, POMS were established and remained unchanged for quite a few years. So system reconfiguration was rarely required. Nowadays, designing POMS is a complex and dynamic task. This is a consequence of today’s highly competitive market with constantly varying market demands and, consequently, varying manufacturing requirements. Due to this, POMS need frequent reconfiguration or redesign to match varying requirements. Unless this process is efficient and quick in achieving good configurations, which can be rapidly and easily implemented in practice, the advantages associated with POMS cannot be fully explored and, consequently, opportunities for maintaining a good competitive position in the market place can be lost. The use of FOMS could be sought as a good alternative to overcome such difficulties. However the requirements for fast delivery increased quality of goods and services and reduced cost of production do not favour FOMS either. This is why fast design or reconfiguration POMS is many times the way to follow. To be able to quickly reach to good POMS designs and fast reconfiguration, a framework and an associated computer aided system for designing POMS, here called Computer Aided Design System for POMS (CADS_POMS), are proposed. They are based on a design methodology, referred to as the GCD methodology, developed by Silva and Alves (2002). The CADS_POMS eases data handling and the iterative design process and, at the same time, provides access to several methods and tools suitable for carrying out the design functions. This is done through a knowledge base and suitable interfaces. The knowledge base can be seen as repository of design and evaluation methods accessed and used at several design phases.