CIM Promotion Measures

The West German Minister for Research and Technology founded the promotion program “Production Technology 1988 – 1992” to promote the implementation of CIM solutions in West Germany. From this program industrial enterprises, primarily from mechanical engineering and plant engineering and construction, can obtain financial help in creating and implementing CIM systems. A further measure financed by this promotion program is the so-called “Expansion via CIM-Technology-Transfer”. Under this title the financing of the development of CIM-Technology-Transfer-Centers (CIM-TTC) at 16 higher education establishments in West Germany is provided (see Fig. E.I.01). The intention here is to provide, in addition to financial support, conceptual help to enterprises that want to examine CIM, in that the CIM know-how of the research institutes involved in the project is made generally available. The primary group at which the Technology-Transfer offer is directed are the small to medium sized operations, which possess desirable prerequisites for CIM implementation (e.g. considerable organizational flexibility, the use of standard software packages), but which lack the necessary specialist knowledge regarding the prospects and risks associated with CIM and procedures for CIM planning and introduction.