This is a Small Grant for Exploratory Research in support of the Intelligent Manufacturing Systems (IMS) Initiative. In an unprecedented world wide effort, numerous commercial organizations and universities have joined together under the AEGIS of the IMS test case for "Holistic Manufacturing Systems" to conduct a one year feasibility study. This grant provides partial support for a student to work in this effort. This support is important in that it provides student involvement in a project that may be the forerunner of a new paradigm for the way research is to be performed.