Internet page

Citation

Abbott, P. (1998), "Internet page", Assembly Automation, Vol. 18 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/aa.1998.03318aag.001

Internet page

http://cewww.eng.ornl.gov/rrm/home.html Rapid Response Manufacturing Consortium

Rapid response manufacturing (RRM) is a joint venture programme co-ordinated by the National Center for Manufacturing Sciences. Focused on the development of specific CAE/CAD/CAM applications in support of automated concurrent engineering, the Webpage outlines an overview of the programme, its goals and methods of achieving them. Although aimed at its own particular project, the information provided gives a good brief overview or introduction to the ethos of rapid response manufacturing.

http://www.profitkey.com/index.htm ProfitKey International, Inc.

Founded in 1979, ProfitKey International markets rapid response manufacturing client/server software applications such as MRP II and shop-floor scheduling for use by manufacturing businesses. The site is well designed as one would expect from a company that offers Web design services, and sets out the products' features and objectives well, though there is little in the way of free non-product information. There are pages for news, press releases, company information and support, and product demonstrations are available either on line or via a downloadable zipped file.

http://mfginfo.com /Manufacturer's Information Net

The manufacturer's information Net was established to provide a complete source of information for industry and those services related to manufacturing. The site is a rich source of US-based information links into industry, predominantly commercial sites. They offer a Web design and hosting service in addition to a search engine on the site that allows a number of different search methods. Subject area headings include tooling, CAD/CAM/DNC, machinery dealers and subcontractors. There is a "what's new" section to keep regular visitors up to date, in addition to an e-mail facility to advise of changes and updates to the site. There are a number of engineering-related articles available to read online which offer more than just another corporate advertisement. The user has a number of opportunities to interact with the site, the server hosting online discussion groups which are set up as an open forum on engineering matters; there is also a classified advertisement feature that allows the reading and posting of advertisements for jobs, machinery and other services. A resource page with a good number of related links rounds off the information available. The site is tidy and well organized with a simple, intuitively logical structure. Its real strength lies in the sheer number of links available making it a good starting point for a subject search.

http://www.industry.net/ Industry Net

Worth a visit for its up to date information, the Industry Net site is a magazine format Website offering news, articles and product searches among other services, all based around industrial and mainly engineering topics. Whether electronics, computing, mechanical or manufacturing there is a page devoted to that specialism, some 17 topic areas all told. Each specialism is divided into news, institutions, discussions and events, and there are free software demos and shareware on some of the topic pages ­ particularly the electronic one. There is a buying guide search facility and a library of online catalogues that is being added to all the time, though some of these services require the reader to register with the site (at no charge). Under the heading of the tools and resources centre there is an impressive review of robotics resources on the Internet, even including a star rating system.

http://mijuno.larc.nasa.gov/dfc/biblio/dfxbiblio.htmlDesign for ... Bibliography

Compiled by Edwin B. Dean, the above page gives access to a number of bibliographies on contemporary engineering design issues. Subjects in the "design for..." series include cost, cycle time, quality, value and supportability among a number of others. The pages are part of the NASA "design for competitive advantage" Website, which gives a good introduction to contemporary engineering themes, particularly concurrent engineering. Based on a desire to research the methods through which the US aerospace industry might improve its competitiveness, the material is equally applicable to other industries.

http://mantech.iitri.com/US Department of Defense, Manufacturing Technology Program

The DoD Manufacturing Technology (ManTech) Program was set up to address affordable, low-risk development and production, and to provide a link between technology invention and development, and industrial applications. The site provides an overview of the program and an insight into leading edge engineering design and manufacturing processes, in the main based around US aerospace and weapon system requirements. There are pages for successful projects, each in a systematic format of objective/approach/ accomplishments, centres of excellence with descriptions of their sphere of expertise and Internet link, and a further page with publications and other links into significant bodies, both civil and military. The site has the usual contact information, guest book and search facility, and includes an Internet page giving some browser advice and links into some tools providers.

Paul Abbott