Abstract: A dynamic process planning system, which integrates nonlinear process p1anning and job shop scheduling at the processing level but not result levels is presented. Taking advantage of the flexibility of manufacturing process and job shop environment, it reaches a nearly optimal solution according to the dynamic status of job shop environment. An expert system of nonlinear process planning generates alternative routes for every product and alternative machines for every machining operation. In the closed-loop that combined of route selection, machine selection and job shop scheduling, several be uristic rules based on CPA (Critical Path Analysis) are used to select nearly optimal route and machines dynamically to gain a nearly highest production efficiency. All these techniques are described in detail.

Key words: CAPP, Expert system, Job-shop scheduling