Research Planning Grant: Process Planning Using an Integrated Neural Network and Expert System Approach

本项目将探索由专家系统和人工神经网络组成的异构智能软件在制造工艺规划中的应用。工艺规划是制造生命周期的重要组成部分，其中产品设计转化为制造的步骤和过程。工艺规划对产品的后续质量和生产过程中的单位成本至关重要。因此，通过产品的制造成本、效用和性能，它是组织竞争能力的重要贡献者。该项目将重点发展对过程规划及其智能计算机会的全面理解。这包括许多制造操作，每个操作如何应用于每个产品设计特征以及操作的正确顺序。了解最佳工艺/序列组合，从而提高制造阶段的效率和生产线上的成本效益，是有效应用智能计算的最终项目的基础。

This project will explore the application of heterogeneous intelligent software composed of expert systems and artificial neural networks to manufacturing process planning. Process planning is an important component of the manufacturing life cycle where product designs are translated to steps and processes for manufacturing. Process planning is critical to the subsequent quality of the product, and the unit cost during manufacturing. Therefore, it is an important contributor to an organization's ability to compete through the cost to manufacture, utility and performance of its products. The project will focus on developing a complete understanding of process planning and its opportunities for intelligent computing. This includes the many manufacturing operations, how each applies to each product design feature and the correct sequence of operations. An appreciation for the best process/sequence combinations leading to efficiency during the manufacturing phase and cost effectiveness on the line is fundamental for a final project which applies intelligent computing in an effective manner.