A computer-based configuration and planning system

Product-oriented domains are characterized by their commitment to one product, or a relatively small range of similar products. In many cases, their products are large, highly complex and costly, and, because of the reliance of such manufacturing companies on a steady, but sometimes small, flow of manufacturing projects, the accurate, cost-effective and timely production of bids to prospective clients is crucial to their survival. The paper outlines the results of research into the application of expert-systems techniques to the modelling, configuration and planning of product-oriented manufacture, and, in particular, to one particular industry: the manufacture of flight simulators.