present a new classification for economic justification methods for advanced automated manufacturing systems. The third paper, by Carrasco and Lee, proposes an enhanced economic methodology to improve the needs analysis, conceptual design and deĀ tailed design activities associated with technology modernization.
The 1980s have witnessed a growth in the field of computer integrated manufacturing systems, as well as computer aided design, computer aided manufacturing, industrial robotics, automated assembly, cellular and modular material handling, computer networking and office automation. These new technologies are generally capital intensive and do not conform to traditional cost structures. The net result is a change in the way costs should be estimated and economic analyses performed. This collection of papers is an attempt to address the various issues associated with non-traditional methods for evaluation of advanced computer integrated technologies. Its coverage includes economic justification methods, models and techniques, costing and investment methods, economic analysis and justification resources and peripheral issues.