Automatic production systems without prior user programming

Today, CAD/CAM is increasingly gaining its importance in the field of mechanical design. However, these systems are not operated easily by those without proper computer programming skills. This paper aims to allow these non-programming professionals to automatically perform flexible production process simply by expressing in a certain manner what they intend to manufacture. In this paper, flexible production is defined as a process in which a certain knowledge can be easily extended to a similar problem. The paper investigated two systems to solve “sequencing problems” and “navigation during traffic congestion”. The former is a system with problem solving programs developed by a manufacturer in advance, allowing users to operate the system without programming. In the latter system, both a manufacturer and a user do not need to develop a program and the user can solve the problem simply by inputting a knowledge base, which is a set of problems and status altering operations. Their comparison showed the latter system reduces workload for the staff, allowing wider job opportunity for those without programming skills, specifically elders and challenged. The expansion of this system has the potential for realizing a more inclusive and diverse society.