COMPUTER AIDED PROCESS PLANNING

The Bell Computer Aided Process Planning System is an on-line system designed to maximize the planners productivity and reduce the clerical effort required to prepare and release planning. The system uses the latest in data base technology and is the nucleus of Bell's integrated manufacturing system. Planning is automatically printed by the computer from a response from the Work-In-Process (WIP) System. A 40,000 man-hour savings has resulted in the Traveler Reproduction Department since the CAP System was installed. Planning effort has been reduced by a minimum of 20%. The MENU approach (Modules of Canned Planning) allows the planner to create the entire operations section of the planning from a seven digit code. MENU's also promote standardization and traceability of existing planning. Other areas of manufacturing are also experiencing benefits from CAP such as automatic provisioning of material codes, mechanical generation of assembly requisition bill of materials, part and stock location callouts, raw material requisitions, and more accurate planning.