DESPLATE, an expert system designed to diagnose abnormal plan view shapes of steel plates in the plate mill, is described. A brief overview of the production process in the plate mill and the problems that motivate the development of DESPLATE are first provided. The goal of DESPLATE is to locate the possible causes such as electrical failures, mechanical breakdowns or wear, operational errors, and pre-rolling conditions for a particular abnormal shape, and to suggest appropriate remedies. A number of issues has arisen in the course of developing DESPLATE. Some of these issues are addressed, including the use of graphics for user interface, forward and backward chaining techniques, and knowledge acquisition methodologies from multiple experts from different disciplinary backgrounds. © 1990 IEEE
