CAPABLE; an aggregate process planning system for integrated product development

摘要

One of the most complex problems in the integrated design and manufacture of products is themeaningful and rapid conversion of early product specifications into manufacturing and assemblyprocess requirements. The theoretical background to the research described herein is the definition ofa new, time-based process planning architecture that consists of three levels corresponding toaggregate, management and detailed planning. The Concurrent Assembly and Process AssessmentsBLocks for Engineering manufacture (CAPABLE) is an aggregate process planning tool-kit which isdesigned to support the integrated product development process from its early stages. The mainfunctions of CAPABLE relate to; the identification of production technology requirements, processand equipment selection, production route generation, evaluation of factory configuration and therapid evaluation of what-if scenarios concerning product configuration and processing options. Aninitial testing phase has been completed in close collaboration with the industrial partner with veryencouraging results.