Examination of Methodology in Selecting Manufacturing Process

The process plans for mechanical products include selection of manufacturing processes: a primary process, and subsequent processes. We define primary processes as net-shape or near net-shape processes. Relation between requirements of the design, production quantity and material on one side and capability of particular process on the other side certainly exist and must be identified to be able to consider only the processes that make sense. Also production costs, quality, lead-times and ecological aspects must also be considered. The paper intention is to research and to give some guidance in classifying these requirements, to find the way how to deal with overlapping capabilities of the processes and to explore the methods of dealing with numerous data that would facilitate decisions regarding “ best” process selection.