Please note this is a Short Discount publication. Process planning involves creating detailed plans of the manufacturing steps and equipment necessary to produce a finished part. Using the variant method, CAPP groups families of parts by a structured classification and coding plan. This report summarizes the state–of–the–art and future trends in the area of CAPP. The computer is a vital part of the process planning function, which includes two different approaches. One is called the variant (similar part) method of process planning and the other is generative (expert system–based). Both will produce similar process plans. Most computer applications, however, are of the variant type, because the software is easier to develop and new process plans are based on previous ones.

With the rapid development of Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM), Computer Aided Process Planning (CAPP) is becoming incresingly important since it plays a key role in CIM. This book systematically discusses process planning and how to implement computerized process planning systems. In essence, the aim of the book is to provide a comprehensive review of CAPP from a manufacturing engineering perspective. Strong emphasis is placed on the understanding of the fundamental principles allied with the implementation of CAPP systems. The book also provides state-of-the-art knowledge on all aspects of computerized manufacturing process planning technologies. Criteria on how to evaluate CAPP systems are also included. The book can be used as a graduate text for courses on Manufacturing Process Planning and Advanced Manufacturing Engineering. It is also eminently suitable as a reference book for guiding research activities in the area of developing CAPP systems and production integration. Production managers and manufacturing engineers will also find the book useful to update their knowledge.

The Current state of expectations is that Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) will ulti mately determine the industrial growth of world nations within the next few decades. Computer Aided Design (CAD), Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM), Flexible Manufacturing Systems (FMS), Robotics together with Knowledge and Information Based Systems (KIBS) and Com munication Networks are expected to develop to a mature state to respond effectively to the managerial requirements of the factories of the future that are becoming highly integrated and complex. CIM represents a new production approach which will allow the factories to deliver a high variety of products at a low cost and with short production cycles. The new technologies for CIM are needed to develop manufacturing environments that are smarter, faster, close-cou pled, integrated, optimized, and flexible. Sophistication and a high degree of specialization in materials science, artificial intelligence, communications technology and knowledge-information science techniques are needed among others for the development of realizable and workable CIM systems that are capable of adjusting to volatile markets. CIM factories are to allow the production of a wide variety of similar products in small batches through standard but multi mission oriented designs that accommodate flexibility with specialized software.