Manufacturing Systems Integration (MSI)

The Manufacturing Systems Integration (MSI) Program supports fundamental research addressing the opportunities and challenges that digital technologies present for the next industrial revolution. The program focuses on the digital integration of design and manufacturing within the larger life cycle ecosystem. Some potential research areas include digital representation, intelligent self-organizing production systems, ease of use, interoperability, and seamless integration of technologies, machines, and humans. • Digital representation, protocols, and/or processes for integration and collaboration in manufacturing systems • Intelligent self-organizing production systems • Ease of use, interoperability, and seamless integration of technologies, machines, and humans • Service-oriented architectures and systems • Data sets that are compatible and usable across platforms • Reliable and secure communications within and across the manufacturing value chain • Integration of distributed manufacturing systems across time and space • Methods for assessing the impact and value of externalities throughout the life cycle within the digital environment