Computer Aided Process Planning for Agile Manufacturing Environment

Agile manufacturing environment demands quick and effective response to unexpected and sudden changes in the products and services, and their demands. Being a crucial intermediate and integrating activity between computer aided design (CAD) and computer aided manufacturing (CAM), computer aided process planning (CAPP) plays an important role in the implementation of agile manufacturing environment by translating design requirements of an improved or redesigned products into the manufacturing instructions. This chapter discusses the role of CAPP, its strategies, techniques, implementation framework, and other related issues in the context of agile manufacturing environment. The chapter also presents a discussion of agile manufacturing environment and CAPP itself. Current CAPP approaches, and manufacturing planning and control methods are information-intensive and are unable to meet the challenges of agile, dynamic and vibrant environment. Therefore, intelligent and integrated planning approach is required to meet the challenges of agility, and for effective planning and control of the factories of future.