Putting Knowledge-Based Concepts to Work for Generic PLC Programming
Ian C. Campbell, Izrail Bukshteyn · Innovative Applications of Artificial Intelligence · 1990
This chapter is a case history of the computer-aided logic expert system (CALES), a quality and productivity tool for programmable controller software engineering now being used in an engineer-to-order manufacturing company. Strategic goals for CALES included the removal of a corporate bottleneck in the electrical engineering department and the development of a foundation for knowledge-based engineering in other parts of the company. Our ultimate knowledge-based engineering goals are to make our corporation more responsive to customer needs and to offer greater customer values with less effort, thereby ensuring a more profitable corporation.CALES helped remove the electric corporate bottleneck and provided a foundation for other knowledge-based engineering tools. As a result of our experiences, we developed the following generalizations: First, we want to develop only those knowledge-based applications that will assist the most strategically important of our company's tasks. Second, human education and commitment are necessary ingredients in the creation of our knowledge-based solutions. Third, the development of a strategic knowledge-based application will be guaranteed a success only if it is conducted from within an operating department and is not delegated to a third-party environment. Development must be under the direct control of a line operating manager. Fourth, cultural and conceptual contributions of the AI community are much more important than using the most advanced AI technologies.