Process design by computer: In the ideal case the computer, rather than shop personnel, will select machine stations and operation sequences

After a product is designed, an intermediate step is required before it can be manufactured: the production process must be planned. Traditionally, production decisions have been made on the factory floor based on trial-and-error experience, but in today's computer age, a strong movement is under way to let the computer decide. For machined parts, for example, the sequence of operations must be determined, the machine tools or work stations must be selected (such as a milling machine, a lathe, or an inspection bench), the cutting tools and fixtures used by the machine must be chosen, and machining parameters, such as cutting speeds and feed rates must be set. Errors in production planning may lead to excessive parts damage if the machining is pushed too fast or to inefficiency if the machinery runs too slowly.