A feature-based prototype system for the evaluation and optimisation of manufacturing processes

The aim of this research work is to develop an intelligent design environment that enables designers to incorporate all product and process related activities into the design phase at early stages of the design process. One of the most important aspects of these activities is evaluation and optimisation of manufacturing processes. This research article focuses on developing a prototype system for manufacturing process optimisation using a combination of mathematical methods and constraint-programming techniques. This approach enables designers to evaluate and optimise feasible manufacturing processes as early as possible during the design session. This helps to avoid unexpected design iterations that cause wastage of a great amount of engineering time and effort, hence longer lead-time. The development process has passed through the following stages: firstly, the development of an intelligent design system for manufacturing process -optimisation, secondly, representation of product features, processes, cost, time and constraints; thirdly, developing the process optimisation rules for the selection of feasible processes for form features, finally, a user interface that provides designer with feedback about process selection and evaluation. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.