MANUFACTURING PROCESS PLANNING AND DESIGN:CONCLUSIONS

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CONCLUSIONS

In this chapter, we have provided a general overview of manufacturing process planning and design. We have also discussed the tools used in process planning. As mentioned earlier in the chapter, automated process planning is especially important for small batch production. At a time when competition is keen and product changeover rapid, shortening the production lead time and production cost are critical to the survival of modern manufacturing industry. Process planning plays an important role in the product-realization process. In order to achieve the goals stated above, it is essential to put more focus on this planning function.

Process planning is a function that requires much human judgment. Over the past three decades, much effort has been put into automating process planning. Although progress has been made on geometric modeling and reasoning, knowledge-based systems, and computational geometry for tool- path generation, no robust integrated process-planning system has been developed. Developing an automated process-planning system is still a challenge to be fulfilled. In the meantime, many of these technologies have been integrated into CAD / CAM systems. They provide human planners with powerful tools to use in developing process plans. We can expect an increasing amount of planning automation be made available to manufacturing engineers. This chapter provides a general back- ground to this important topic. Additional readings are included for those interested in a more in- depth investigation of the subject.

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