Implementing an Expert System for Process Planning

In 1980, the Defense Systems & Electronics Group of Texas Instruments Incorporated undertook the development and implementation of an “expert system” for the generation of manufacturing process plans. Taking this new state-of-the-art approach was made possible by the availability of a newly developed decision logic-handling software package called DCLASS.

Initial system implementation addressing sheet metal parts was quite successful; however, as the more complex product types were addressed, certain limitations were encountered. Several technology gaps were identified as major obstacles to developing an “artificial process planner” capable of generating process instructions for the production of complex metallic piece parts.