Material- und Signalfluß

An industrial production process is considered to be divided into a working process and an information process. Starting point for the information process is the sampling of a material flow. The meaning of “representative” samples as well as questions of continuous and non-continuous sampling methods are discussed. The signals coming out of analysis are arranged in a special way according to statistical methods. Thereafter the information content is calculated by using rules of the information theory. The transmission of the information content within a certain time results in an information flux. The information flux actually required by the working process is compared to the information flux provided by analysis; and both are put into an equilibrium followed by considerations on “necessary and sufficient” analytical actions. It is the aim of analytical information processes to reduce the entropy of the working process to a minimum.