The leitstand-A new tool for computer-integrated manufacturing

A leitstand is a computer-aided graphical decision support system for interactive production scheduling and control. It fits perfectly into the CIM concept, connecting the production planning system with the shop floor. It consists of a graphics component to display a pictorial representation of a schedule, a schedule editor for generating and manipulating schedules, a data base management system and communication component for handling data, an evaluation component for measuring schedule performance, and a component for generating and manipulating schedules automatically. This article elaborates on the different components of a lietstand and describes existing and planned leitstand systems.