Which of the following reflects the CIM categories?

• A. Engineering systems
• B. Manufacturing administration
• C. Factory automation
• D. All three are CIM categories

Answer: (D)

CIM, or Computer Integrated Manufacturing, is about unifying design, planning, and production through an integrated information framework. The idea being tested is that CIM spans multiple facets of manufacturing, not just one area. It includes engineering systems like product design, process planning, CAD/CAM, and product data management; it covers manufacturing administration such as shop-floor control, scheduling, inventory, and cost management; and it encompasses factory automation, including robotics, PLCs, and automated equipment on the shop floor. Because CIM aims to integrate these activities into a single cohesive system, all three areas are considered part of CIM. So the best choice is that all three are CIM categories. If you focused on just one area, you’d be looking at a portion of CIM rather than the full integrated approach it represents.