Process Planning

Process planning translates design information into the process steps and instructions to efficiently and effectively manufacturer products. As the design process is supported by several computer-aided tools, computer-aided process planning (CAPP) has evolved to simplify and enhanced process planning and achieve more effective use of manufacturing resources.

Process planning encompasses the activities and functions to prepare a detailed set of plans and instructions to generate a part. The planning starts along specifications, engineering drawings, material or parts lists and a forecast of demand. The results of the planning are :

A. Process plans that typically provide more detailed, step-by-step work instructions by including dimensions connected to individual operations, machining parameters, set-up instructions, & quality assurance checkpoints.

B. Fabrication and assembly drawings to support manufacture (as opposed to engineering drawings to mention the part).

C. Routings with mention operations, operation sequences, work centers, standards, tooling and fixtures. This routing becomes a main input to the manufacturing resources planning system to indicate operations for production activity control reason and define needed resources for capacity requirements planning purposes.

Manual process planning is depending on a manufacturing engineer's experience and knowledge of production facilities, equipment, processes and tooling, their capabilities, Process planning is extremely time-consuming and the results differ based on the person doing the planning.