December 2, 1998
      
                  
        
  Author(s)
  Katherine C. Morris,   David W. Flater,   Donald E. Libes,   Albert W. Jones
 
       
            
    
    
        As automation of manufacturing processes becomes more widespread, manufacturing systems are becoming more and more software dependent. At the same time, the software used is becoming more and more modularized allowing for the creation of customized systems