The possible benefits, the external characteristics, and the broad-range requirements of information infrastructure systems for intelligent manufacturing systems are widely known. However, it is recognised that various problems are impeding achievement in this area, including lack of understanding and agreement about techniques and methods for coordinating and systemizing the broad-range information processing requirements, and for synthesising these development of information infrastructures amalgamating the conceptual models and computing/communication/storage technologies, and the development of intelligent manufacturing systems amalgamating the information infrastructures with advanced machine tools and skillful people. This publication elaborates on these issues and affords a greater understanding of, and agreement about, methods, contributions, sourced from reknowned experts, are focussed on some of the most relevant reserach and development issues. The book will provide a useful foundation of information for further research and development on information infrastructure systems for manufacturing.
