Machining surface texture knowledge management using a category theory-based object-oriented database

Many manufacturing companies around the globe are applying various tools and methods nowadays to ensure the consistency of product characteristics through the manufacturing life cycle. This paper describes an information system framework for managing “knowledge” of surface textures “hidden” in the Geometric Product Specification and Verification (GPS) standards to facilitate this trend. The paper started with an introduction of the Category Theory, which formed the theoretical foundation of the proposed framework. Based on the discoveries highlighted in the introduction and literature review, the rationales for adopting the Category Theory in this research were discussed in terms of how it can be used in dealing with problems inherited from the conventional process of Object-Oriented database modeling. An overview of the software architecture, and the developing techniques for the proposed prototype system were also included. The paper concluded with an implementation of the prototype system to illustrate some of the design functions and features.