TOMAS is the single system on the market offering use of Group Technology concept. This concept is one of basic elements of CIM concept (Computerized Integrated Manufacturing).

The options that are offered by TOMAS, are the following:

ANALYSIS OF PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY

Based on product routings, one could get:

• groups of technologically similar products, i.e. products that are produced through similar sequence of work places
• groups of machines, i.e. work places, that work in a sequence, producing technologically similar products.

The user defines conditions for technologically similar products. This is done in such a way that one seeks products that:

• are produced on work places

• use the materials and semiproducts

Hence, the user defines (potential) technological group and TOMAS finds products that are the members of such a group.

PRODUCTS WITH SAME ROUTINGS

One gets a list of all products that are produced by the same group of machines, i.e. work places.
This might be useful for grouping work orders:

• so that, material transported could be adequately organized
• machine preparation times could be minimized.

• development of standard routings for typical products
• better shop layout, with optimized internal transport
• getting framework for flexible machine centre, compound machines etc.
• more efficient design of tools, for groups of products.