The availability of effective global communication facilities in the last decade has changed the business goals of many manufacturing enterprises. They need to remain competitive by developing products and processes which are specific to individual requirements, completely packaged and manufactured globally. Networks of enterprises are formed to operate across time and space with world-wide distributed functions such as manufacturing, sales, customer support, engineering, quality assurance, supply chain management and so on. Research and technology development need to address architectures, methodologies, models and tools supporting intra- and inter-enterprise operation and management. Throughout the life cycle of products and enterprises there is the requirement to transform information sourced from globally distributed offices and partners into knowledge for decision and action. Building on the success of previous DrrSM conferences (Tokyo 1993, Eindhoven 1996, Fort Worth 1998), the fourth International Conference on Design of Information Infrastructure Systems for Manufacturing (DrrSM 2000) aims to: * Establish and manage the dynamics of virtual enterprises, define the information system requirements and develop solutions; * Develop and deploy information management in multi-cultural systems with universal applicability of the proposed architecture and solutions; * Develop enterprise integration architectures, methodologies and information infrastructure support for reconfigurable enterprises; * Explore information transformation into knowledge for decision and action by machine and skilful people; These objectives reflect changes of the business processes due to advancements of information and communication technologies (ICT) in the last couple of years.

 This Handbook is about methods, tools and examples of how to architect an enterprise through considering all life cycle aspects of Enterprise Entities (such as individual enterprises, enterprise networks, virtual enterprises, projects and other complex systems including a mixture of automated and human processes). The book is based on ISO15704:2000, or the GERAM Framework (Generalised Enterprise Reference Architecture and Methodology) that generalises the requirements of Enterprise Reference Architectures. Various Architecture Frameworks (PERA, CIMOSA, Grai-GIM, Zachman, C4ISR/DoDAF) are shown in light of GERAM to allow a deeper understanding of their contributions and therefore their correct and knowledgeable use. The handbook addresses a wide variety of audience, and covers methods and tools necessary to design or redesign enterprises, as well as to structure the implementation into manageable projects. 

The 1990s have seen many large-scale efforts to transform companies into more agile and efficient global enterprises. An important lesson from the efforts in computer-integrated manufacturing and other businesses has been that enterpriseslike any other system - need to be properly designed and that methods to do this should become widely available and publicised. Architectures for Enterprise Integration describes the latest methods to guide enterprises and consultants, managers and technical personnel through a complete life-cycle of enterprise development. This book is based on the findings of the IFIP/IFAC Task Force and presents a state-of-the-art review of enterprise architecture, including analysis and comparison of the three major architectural frameworks and methodologies; identification of the strengths and weaknesses of each methodology to enable users to select the approach which best suits their needs; a roadmap for the development of more complete methodologies by using existing ones. This book is essential reading for all practising engineers and researchers in manufacturing and engineering management and will be of special interest to those involved in CIM and enterprise modelling and integration.

Enterprise integration and enterprise engineering has become a focal point of discussions during the past few years with active contribution of many disciplines... The evolution from the concept of CAD/CAM, through CIM to the Integrated Enterprise is based on the assumption that the integrated enterprise can (and should) be engineered just as any complex system can.

This book is a stop-gap contribution to the science and technology of carbon plasmas and carbon vapors. It strives to cover two strongly related fields: the molecular quantum theory of carbon plasmas and carbon nanostructures; and the molecular and atomic spectroscopy of such plasmas and vapors. These two fields of research are strongly intertwined and thus reinforce one another.

Even though the use of carbon nanostructures is increasing by the day and their practical uses are emerging, there is no modern review on carbon plasmas, especially from molecular theoretical and spectroscopic viewpoints. The importance of the present book is therefore great from both educational and practical aspects. This review might be the first step towards bringing such textbooks into existence for university education. Similarly, for applied and engineering works in carbon nanostructures, the book provides a theoretical salient point for technologists in the field.

Enterprise integration and enterprise engineering has become a focal point of discussions during the past few years with active contribution of many disciplines... The evolution from the concept of CAD/CAM, through CIM to the Integrated Enterprise is based on the assumption that the integrated enterprise can (and should) be engineered just as any complex system can.

Architectures for Enterprise Integration describes the latest methods to guide enterprises and consultants, managers and technical personnel through a complete life-cycle of enterprise development. This book is based on the findings of the IFIP/IFAC Task Force and presents the state-of-the-art in enterprise architecture. This book is essential reading for all practising engineers and researchers in manufacturing and engineering management with special interest for those involved in CIM and Enterprise Modelling and Integration.

This Handbook is about methods, tools and examples of how to architect an enterprise through considering all life cycle aspects of Enterprise Entities (such as individual enterprises, enterprise networks, virtual enterprises, projects and other complex systems including a mixture of automated and human processes). The book is based on ISO15704:2000, or the GERAM Framework (Generalised Enterprise Reference Architecture and Methodology) that generalises the requirements of Enterprise Reference Architectures. Various Architecture Frameworks (PERA, CIMOSA, Grai-GIM, Zachman, C4ISR/DoDAF) are shown in light of GERAM to allow a deeper understanding of their contributions and therefore their correct and knowledgeable use. The handbook addresses a wide variety of audience, and covers methods and tools necessary to design or redesign enterprises, as well as to structure the implementation into manageable projects.

The availability of effective global communication facilities in the last decade has changed the business goals of many manufacturing enterprises. They need to remain competitive by developing products and processes which are specific to individual requirements, completely packaged and manufactured globally. Networks of enterprises are formed to operate across time and space with world-wide distributed functions such as manufacturing, sales, customer support, engineering, quality assurance, supply chain management and so on. Research and technology development need to address architectures, methodologies, models and tools supporting intra- and inter-enterprise operation and management. Throughout the life cycle of products and enterprises there is the requirement to transform information sourced from globally distributed offices and partners into knowledge for decision and action. Building on the success of previous DrrSM conferences (Tokyo 1993, Eindhoven 1996, Fort Worth 1998), the fourth International Conference on Design of Information Infrastructure Systems for Manufacturing (DrrSM 2000) aims to: * Establish and manage the dynamics of virtual enterprises, define the information system requirements and develop solutions; * Develop and deploy information management in multi-cultural systems with universal applicability of the proposed architecture and solutions; * Develop enterprise integration architectures, methodologies and information infrastructure support for reconfigurable enterprises; * Explore information transformation into knowledge for decision and action by machine and skilful people; These objectives reflect changes of the business processes due to advancements of information and communication technologies (ICT) in the last couple of years.