This 5 volume MRW (Major Reference Work) is entitled "Computer Aided and
Integrated Manufacturing Systems". A brief summary description of each of the
5 volumes will be noted in their respective PREFACES. An MRW is normally on
a broad subject of major importance on the international scene. Because of the
breadth of a major subject area, an MRW will normally consist of an integrated
set of distinctly titled and well-integrated volumes each of which occupies a major
role in the broad subject of the MRW. MRWs are normally required when a given
major subject cannot be adequately treated in a single volume or, for that matter,
by a single author or coauthors.
Normally, the individual chapter authors for the respective volumes of an MRW
will be among the leading contributors on the international scene in the subject
area of their chapter. The great breadth and significance of the subject of this
MRW evidently calls for treatment by means of an MRW.
As will be noted later in this preface, the technology and techniques utilized in
the methods of computer aided and integrated manufacturing systems have produced
and will, no doubt, continue to produce significant annual improvement in
productivity — the goods and services produced from each hour of work. In addition,
as will be noted later in this preface, the positive economic implications of
constant annual improvements in productivity have very positive implications for
national economies as, in fact, might be expected.
Before getting into these matters, it is perhaps interesting to briefly touch on
Moore's Law for integrated circuits because, while Moore's Law is in an entirely different
area, some significant and somewhat interesting parallels can be seen. In 1965,
Gordon Moore, cofounder of INTEL made the observation that the number of transistors
per square inch on integrated circuits could be expected to double every year
for the foreseeable future. In subsequent years, the pace slowed down a bit, but density
has doubled approximately every 18 months, and this is the current definition
of Moore's Law. Currently, experts, including Moore himself, expect Moore's Law
to hold for at least another decade and a half. This is impressive with many significant
implications in technology and economies on the international scene. With
these observations in mind, we now turn our attention to the greatly significant and
broad subject area of this MRW.
