The demand for machine tools with accuracy on a
nanometer scale has been increasing in a wide range
of industries. Machine tools have been called “mother
machines” in that they produce various other devices.
In order to meet the requirements of industry, numerous
research activities have been conducted to develop
various technologies related to machine tools. However,
there are only few established technologies in
spite of the machine tool industry’s long history. A new
approach to systematizing machine tool engineering is
playing an increasingly important role in the development
of innovative machine tools. This paper presents
a conceptual framework for systematizing machine
tool engineering. Future evolutionary trends in machine
tool engineering are also described.