Glossary · approach
Process Planning
Manufacturing OR problem of deciding, for a part to be produced, the optimal sequence of machining/forming/assembly operations and the specific machine, tool and fixture for each operation.
CAPPComputer-Aided Process PlanningOperation Sequencing
Process planning is the manufacturing-OR problem of determining, for a part to be produced, the optimal sequence of machining/forming/assembly operations (milling, turning, grinding, heat-treatment, assembly) and the specific machine + tool + fixture for each operation, subject to precedence constraints, tooling availability and quality requirements. Academic name: **Computer-Aided Process Planning (CAPP)**. Two principal approaches: **variant CAPP** inherits from a part-family template by similarity; **generative CAPP** builds the routing from scratch via feature recognition + rule-based / MIP. Foundational survey: Alting and Zhang (1989); generative reference for non-rotational parts: Khoshnevis and Chen (1991); modern survey: Xu, Wang and Newman (2011). While #001 (Job Shop) operates under an existing process plan, CAPP produces the plan itself — the bridge from design to make.
Örnek
For a cast-iron part, a CAPP module: feature recognition reads 12 holes + 4 pockets + 1 profile from the CAD; three alternative routings are generated (3-axis mill + drill in one setup; 5-axis mill in a separate setup; EDM for the pocket); routing 1 is chosen on the objective, saving 38 minutes total.