Formal Design Theory (PDT) is a mathematical theory of design. The main goal of PDT is to develop a domain independent core model of the design process. The book focuses the reader's attention on the process by which ideas originate and are developed into workable products. In developing PDT, we have been striving toward what has been expressed by the distinguished scholar Simon (1969): that "the science of design is possible and some day we will be able to talk in terms of well-established theories and practices. " The book is divided into five interrelated parts. The conceptual approach is presented first (Part I); followed by the theoretical foundations of PDT (Part II), and from which the algorithmic and pragmatic implications are deduced (Part III). Finally, detailed case-studies illustrate the theory and the methods of the design process (Part IV), and additional practical considerations are evaluated (Part V). The generic nature of the concepts, theory and methods are validated by examples from a variety of disciplines. FDT explores issues such as: algebraic representation of design artifacts, idealized design process cycle, and computational analysis and measurement of design process complexity and quality. FDT's axioms convey the assumptions of the theory about the nature of artifacts, and potential modifications of the artifacts in achieving desired goals or functionality. By being able to state these axioms explicitly, it is possible to derive theorems and corollaries, as well as to develop specific analytical and constructive methodologies.

This book presents a specific and unified approach to Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining, termed IFN for Information Fuzzy Network methodology. Data Mining (DM) is the science of modelling and generalizing common patterns from large sets of multi-type data. DM is a part of KDD, which is the overall process for Knowledge Discovery in Databases. The accessibility and abundance of information today makes this a topic of particular importance and need. The book has three main parts complemented by appendices as well as software and project data that are accessible from the book's web site (http: //www.eng.tau.ac.iV-maimonlifn-kdg ). Part I (Chapters 1-4) starts with the topic of KDD and DM in general and makes reference to other works in the field, especially those related to the information theoretic approach. The remainder of the book presents our work, starting with the IFN theory and algorithms. Part II (Chapters 5-6) discusses the methodology of application and includes case studies. Then in Part III (Chapters 7-9) a comparative study is presented, concluding with some advanced methods and open problems. The IFN, being a generic methodology, applies to a variety of fields, such as manufacturing, finance, health care, medicine, insurance, and human resources. The appendices expand on the relevant theoretical background and present descriptions of sample projects (including detailed results)."

This book presents a unified optimal control approach to a large class of problems arising in the field of production planning and scheduling. It introduces a leading optimal flow control paradigm which results in efficient solutions for planning and scheduling problems. This book also introduces the reader to analytical and numerical methods of the maximum principle, used here as a mathematical instrument in modeling and solving production planning and scheduling problems. The book examines control of production flows rather than sequencing of distinct jobs. Methodologically, this paradigm allows us to progress from initial assumptions about a manufacturing environment, through mathematical models and construction of numerical methods, up to practical applications which prove the relevance of the theory developed here to the real world. Given a manufacturing system, the goal is to control the production, subject to given constraints, in such a way that the demands are tracked as closely as possible. The book considers a wide variety of problems encountered in actual production planning and scheduling. Among the problems are production flow sequencing and timing, capacity expansion and deterioration, subcontracting and overtime. The last chapter is entirely devoted to applications of the theory to scheduling production flows in real-life manufacturing systems. The enclosed disk provides software implementations of the developed methods with easy, convenient user interface. We aimed this book at a student audience - final year undergraduates as weIl as master and Ph. D.

Formal Design Theory (PDT) is a mathematical theory of design. The main goal of PDT is to develop a domain independent core model of the design process. The book focuses the reader's attention on the process by which ideas originate and are developed into workable products. In developing PDT, we have been striving toward what has been expressed by the distinguished scholar Simon (1969): that "the science of design is possible and some day we will be able to talk in terms of well-established theories and practices. " The book is divided into five interrelated parts. The conceptual approach is presented first (Part I); followed by the theoretical foundations of PDT (Part II), and from which the algorithmic and pragmatic implications are deduced (Part III). Finally, detailed case-studies illustrate the theory and the methods of the design process (Part IV), and additional practical considerations are evaluated (Part V). The generic nature of the concepts, theory and methods are validated by examples from a variety of disciplines. FDT explores issues such as: algebraic representation of design artifacts, idealized design process cycle, and computational analysis and measurement of design process complexity and quality. FDT's axioms convey the assumptions of the theory about the nature of artifacts, and potential modifications of the artifacts in achieving desired goals or functionality. By being able to state these axioms explicitly, it is possible to derive theorems and corollaries, as well as to develop specific analytical and constructive methodologies.

This book presents a unified optimal control approach to a large class of problems arising in the field of production planning and scheduling. It introduces a leading optimal flow control paradigm which results in efficient solutions for planning and scheduling problems. This book also introduces the reader to analytical and numerical methods of the maximum principle, used here as a mathematical instrument in modeling and solving production planning and scheduling problems. The book examines control of production flows rather than sequencing of distinct jobs. Methodologically, this paradigm allows us to progress from initial assumptions about a manufacturing environment, through mathematical models and construction of numerical methods, up to practical applications which prove the relevance of the theory developed here to the real world. Given a manufacturing system, the goal is to control the production, subject to given constraints, in such a way that the demands are tracked as closely as possible. The book considers a wide variety of problems encountered in actual production planning and scheduling. Among the problems are production flow sequencing and timing, capacity expansion and deterioration, subcontracting and overtime. The last chapter is entirely devoted to applications of the theory to scheduling production flows in real-life manufacturing systems. The enclosed disk provides software implementations of the developed methods with easy, convenient user interface. We aimed this book at a student audience - final year undergraduates as weIl as master and Ph. D.

This book presents a specific and unified approach to Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining, termed IFN for Information Fuzzy Network methodology. Data Mining (DM) is the science of modelling and generalizing common patterns from large sets of multi-type data. DM is a part of KDD, which is the overall process for Knowledge Discovery in Databases. The accessibility and abundance of information today makes this a topic of particular importance and need. The book has three main parts complemented by appendices as well as software and project data that are accessible from the book's web site (http: //www.eng.tau.ac.iV-maimonlifn-kdg ). Part I (Chapters 1-4) starts with the topic of KDD and DM in general and makes reference to other works in the field, especially those related to the information theoretic approach. The remainder of the book presents our work, starting with the IFN theory and algorithms. Part II (Chapters 5-6) discusses the methodology of application and includes case studies. Then in Part III (Chapters 7-9) a comparative study is presented, concluding with some advanced methods and open problems. The IFN, being a generic methodology, applies to a variety of fields, such as manufacturing, finance, health care, medicine, insurance, and human resources. The appendices expand on the relevant theoretical background and present descriptions of sample projects (including detailed results)."