Integrated Processes

Integrated Processes

1. Integrated processes are those that combine more than one specific unit process into a single piece of equipment or into a group of work stations that are operated under unified control

   • Research Opportunities
     • Integrated tools for solid modeling, expert system design assistants, and process development.
       • Architecture and analysis of integrated processes.
         • Development of standards for process integration
           • Control architectures.
   • Integrated processes can combine multiple processes that fall within the same family, such as different material removal processes, or they can combine processes that are in different unit process families, such as a mass-change process and a structure-change process.
   • A number of factors are accelerating the push toward integrated unit processing.
     • These include the need for reduced equipment and process cost, shorter processing times, reduced inspection time, and reduced handling