Manufacturing Planning
The applications of CAM in manufacturing planning are those in which computers are utilized directly to support the production function, but there is no direct connection among the computer and the process. The computer is utilized "offline" to provide information for the effective planning & management of the production activities. The given list surveys the application of CAM in this category:
Computer Aided Process Planning (CAPP)
The route sheets listing the operation sequences & workstations needed for manufacturing the products and its components are prepared in process planning. These route sheets are prepared now a days utilizing CAPP.
Computer Assisted NC Part Programming
Computer assisted part programming represents a method to produce the control instructions for the machine tools for complicated geometries instead of manual part programming. For NC machines part Programming is step by step instructions according to which tool movements on the part for metal elimination is carried out.
Computerized Machinability Data System
Determination of speed & feed in metal cutting for the specified machine tools is a major difficulty. Computer program is written to propose the appropriate condition to utilize for different materials. Estimation of tool life needs information regarding material of tools and work piece, speed, feed and depth of cut etc. As according the cutting conditions, such calculations are to be repeated. Thus, application of computers for such purposes might assist process planner to a great extent.
Development of Work Standard
Responsibility for setting time standards on direct labour jobs carry out in the factory is taken by time study department. This is a very tedious & time consuming task to establish standards by direct time study. There are various computer packages also available in market for setting up the work standards. These computer programs utilize standard time data that have been developed for basic work element that comprise any manual task. By summing up the times for the individual elements needed to perform a new job, the program calculates the standard time for the job.
Cost Estimating
In several industries, cost estimation of a new product is being simplified by computerizing various key steps needed to prepare the estimate. Appropriate labour and overhead rates are applied with the help of the computer programs to the sequence of planned operations involved in the components of new products. Individual components cost which range from the engineering bill of the materials to find out the overall product cost is summed up by the program.
Production and Inventory Planning
Extensive application in several of the functions in inventory planning & production control is being executed by the computer. The aforementioned functions are maintenance of inventory records, automatic recording of stock items in the case while inventory is depleted, production scheduling, maintaining current priorities for the different production orders material requirements planning, & capacity planning etc.
Computer Aided Line Balancing
This is a very tough job to determine the best allocation of work elements among stations on an assembly line if the line is of significant size. The problems are solved out with the help of computer program.