Computer Aided Process Planning (CAPP)

In the year 1965 Niebel presented the idea of utilising the speed and consistency of computers to assist the process planners. Subsequently, the feasibility of automated process planning using computers was proposed. Despite an early realisation, CAPP was not addressed actively until the year 1970s. This was because of the fact that computer capabilities, at that time, were limited and manufacturing engineers were not aware of the potential of using computer aided techniques. Beyond the year 1976 research on CAPP has witnessed considerable advancements and till date a number of highly sophisticated CAPP systems have been developed and are available commercially .

Advantages of CAPP

CAPP offers a number of advantages over manual planning specifically, improving the productivity of the process planner, producing consistent process plans and decreasing the process planning and manufacturing costs.

Approaches to CAPP

Two of approaches to computer aided process planning are traditionally recognised as:

a. The Variant Approach

b. The Generative Approach

Though, majority of the existing process planning systems do not fit into the above scheme of classification and are depend on the combined or hybrid approach utilising both approaches.