1 Introduction.- 2 Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM).- 2.1 Fundamentals, Definitions, and Philosophy.- 2.2 Main Historical Sources.- 3 Stages of Development in Flexible Manufacturing.- 3.1 General Remarks.- 3.2 Historical Development and Modifications in Flexible Manufacturing.- 3.2.1 Technical Advances.- 3.2.2 Origin of Data Processing and Numerical Control.- 3.2.3 Definitions, Characteristics, and Stages of Development.- 3.3 General Principles and Definitions of Numerical Control.- 3.3.1 General.- 3.3.2 Principles of Control.- 3.3.2.1 Fundamental Definitions.- 3.3.2.2 Types of Interpolation.- 3.3.3 Feed Drives.- 3.3.4 Principles of Coordinate Positioning.- 3.4 Modifications of Numerically Controlled Variants of Equipment.- 3.4.1 Numerically Controlled Machine Tools.- 3.4.1.1 Specific Features and Advantages of CNC Controls.- 3.4.1.2 Machining Centers: NC/MC Characteristics and Features.- 3.4.2 Flexible Manufacturing Systems.- 3.4.2.1 General Explanations.- 3.4.2.2 FMS - Characteristics and Features.- 3.4.2.3 FMS - Examples of Applications in the United States and Japan.- 3.4.2.4 FMS in Japan.- 3.4.2.5 The Development of CAM-type Automated Manufacturing Systems in the Czechoslovak Engineering Industry.- 3.4.2.6 FMS in the German Democratic Republic.- 3.4.2.7 FMS in the Federal Republic of Germany.- 3.4.2.8 Example of an FMS in the United Kingdom.- 3.4.2.9 FMS in Bulgaria and the USSR.- 3.4.3 Manufacturing Cells.- 3.4.3.1 Historical Development.- 3.4.3.2 NC Manufacturing Cells, Characteristics and Features.- 3.4.3.3 Manufacturing Cells for Rotary Workpieces.- 3.4.3.4 Manufacturing Cells for Prismatic Workpieces.- 3.4.4 Flexible Manufacturing System Complex Provided with Laser (FMSC or FMC).- 3.4.4.1 Historical Development.- 3.4.4.2 Concepts and Constituent Technologies.- 3.4.4.3 Structure and Functions of Tsukuba FMSC Test Plant.- 3.5 Direct Numerical Control (DNC) and Hierarchical Computer Control.- 3.5.1 Stages of Development.- 3.5.2 Variants of the Realization of DNC Systems.- 3.5.2.1 DNC as Modules of a Complete CAD/CAM System.- 3.5.2.2 DNC Systems as Workshop Communication Systems.- 3.5.2.3 DNC Systems for Process Monitoring and for a Guiding-Center Function.- 3.5.3 Summary and Prospects.- 4 Methods of Decision-Making for Investments.- 4.1 Analytical Methods of Computation for the Production-Technological Preparation of Employment.- 4.1.1 Formulation of Problems.- 4.1.2 The General Sequence of Decision-Making.- 4.1.3 Preliminary Decision on Machine Selection Based on Degree of Complexity.- 4.1.3.1 Determination of the Degree of Complexity for Turning.- 4.1.3.2 Determination of the Degree of Complexity for Milling.- 4.1.3.3 Determination of the Degree of Complexity for Drilling.- 4.1.4 Technological-Economic Value Analysis for the Differentiated Evaluation.- 4.1.4.1 Buildup of the Target Complex.- 4.1.4.2 Weighting of Targets, Determining of Value Functions and Use Values.- 4.1.5 Machine Selection on the Basis of Determination of Economy.- 4.2 Methods of Simulation.- 4.2.1 Discrete Event Simulation.- 4.2.2 Need for Simulation in Manufacturing.- 4.2.3 An Example of the Use of Activity Cycles in Computer-Aided Manufacturing.- 4.2.4 The Use of Simulation in Data-Driven Automation.- 4.2.5 Survey of Use in Manufacturing.- 4.2.5.1 Vendors.- 4.2.5.2 Manufacturers.- 4.2.5.3 Research Groups.- 4.2.6 Future Trends.- 5 Computer-Aided Production Planning.- 5.1 Scope and Main Fields.- 5.1.1 Input Information for Production Planning.- 5.1.2 Production Planning.- 5.1.3 Output Information and Working Areas Based on It.- 5.2 Unification and Group Technology.- 5.2.1 Classification.- 5.2.2 Group Technology.- 5.3 Computer-Aided Process Planning.- 5.3.1 General Requirements.- 5.3.2 The Program System RATIBERT.- 5.3.3 Examples of Computer-Aided Process-Planning Systems.- 5.4 NC Programming.- 5.4.1 NC Programming Systems for Machine Tools.- 5.4.1.1 Historical Development and Basic Concepts.- 5.4.1.2 Comments on the APT Language.- 5.4.1.3 General Features of NC Programming Systems.- 5.4.1.4 Processor-Postprocessor.- 5.4.1.5 Data Communication.- 5.4.1.6 Main Features of Internationally Known Programming Systems.- 5.4.1.7 Selection Criteria for NC Programming Languages.- 5.4.1.8 Future Trends.- 5.4.2 Programming Systems for Industrial Robots.- 5.4.2.1 Steps in Development.- 5.4.2.2 Programming Systems.- 5.4.2.3 Classification and Features of Languages for Industrial Robots.- 5.5 Problem-Restricted Solutions.- 6 Geometric Modeling.- 6.1 Classification of Geometric Modeling Systems.- 6.2 Solid Modeling Systems.- 6.3 Structure of Systems.- 6.4 Future Trends.- 6.4.1 Models.- 6.4.2 Integration with Application Systems.- 6.4.3 Accumulation of Geometric Data in the System.- 6.4.4 Transfer of Characteristic Properties of Artificial Intelligence Systems to Geometric Modeling Systems.- 7 Integration of CAD/CAM.- 7.1 Introduction.- 7.2 Meaning of CAD/CAM Integration.- 7.3 Information for Integrated Processing.- 7.4 Software Structures for Integrated CAD Systems.- 7.5 Hardware Structures for Integrated CAD Systems.- 7.6 Examples of Integration.- 7.7 Working Techniques with Integrated Systems.- 7.8 Factory Aspects of Integrated Systems.- 7.9 Trends.- 8 Techniques of Software Design for CAD/CAM.- 8.1 The Evolution of Programming Languages for CAD/CAM.- 8.2 CAD/CAM Software Engineering Tools.- 8.2.1 CAD/CAM Systems.- 8.2.2 Data Bases.- 8.2.3 Design of Interactive Programs.- 8.3 AI and AI Languages for CAD/CAM.- 8.3.1 Data Bases.- 8.3.2 Logic Processing.- 8.3.3 Automatic Decision.- 8.3.4 Syntax of Logic.- 8.4 Conclusion.- 9 Artificial Intelligence.- 9.1 General Trends and Basic Concepts.- 9.2 Fields of Application.- 9.2.1 Effective Forms of Communication.- 9.2.2 Extended Possibilities for Problem Solving.- 9.2.3 Efficient Storage of Information and Knowledge.- 9.2.4 Deductive and Inductive Information Processing on the Basis of Stored Knowledge and Semantic Transformations.- 9.2.5 Deductive and Inductive Acquisition of Knowledge (Self-Learning Systems).- 9.2.6. Process-Related Intelligence with Improved Capabilities of Self-Diagnosis.- 10 Development from CAD/CAM to CIM.- 10.1 The State of the Art of CAM.- 10.2 Computer-Integrated Manufacturing.- 10.2.1 Part Geometry, Product Specification.- 10.2.2 Manufacturing Process Data.- 10.2.3 Product Structure (Bill of Materials).- 10.2.4 Configuration Control.- 10.2.5 Production Schedules, Results.- 10.2.6 Inventory Availability.- 10.3 First Attempts at Computer-Integrated Manufacturing.- Appendix 1 - Activities of the IFIP-WG 5.3.- Appendix 2 - The Tsukuba Test Plant FMS Complex with Laser.- References.