Process Planning

Process planning is the systematic determination of method or process by which the product is to be manufactured economically and competitively within the limits of design specifications laid down. It contains devising, selecting and specifying processes, machine tools and another equipment to convert raw materials into finished products.

It is an intermediate stage between designing the product and manufacturing it. The following factors are considered while preparing the process plan :

A. The functional needs of the product.

B. Time phased volume of output.

C. The necessary operations and their sequence.

D. Essential tools and equipment.

E. Estimated manufacturing cost for producing the product.

F. Needs of tools, labour and other resources.

The process planning is mainly related with, determining the manufacturing processes, sequence of operations, equipments, tools and labour needed for the  production of a component or a product, coordinating the efforts of all factors in manufacturing the product and to furnish a guide to make use of the existing or the proposed facilities.

Process planning consists of two parts :

A. Process design and

B. Operations design or planning