Manufacturability Analysis Using High-Level Process Planning

Abstract

Abstract Virtual enterprises utilize the resources of the most capable partners for mutual benefit. This paper describes a high-level process planning and manufacturability analysis approach which increases decision support at the product design stage and reduces time to market by integrating the process of forming the virtual enterprise with design critiquing and process planning so that the designer can develop the process plan and evaluate the design with respect to the capabilities of the potential partners early in the design cycle. Alternative high-level process plans are generated based on the product design requirements, process capabilities, and plant performance measures. The manufacturability of each design-process plan combination is evaluated by estimating the cost, lead time, and expected quality of each high-level process plan.