Optimal platform design and process plan for managing variety using hybrid manufacturing

A novel generic process planning concept is introduced to manage the variety of product families produced by hybrid manufacturing. An optimal product family platform containing the core features of all variants is first developed. A combination of additive and subtractive processes of a product variant differentiating features determines its optimal process plan and minimizes manufacturing cost. The developed mixed integer linear programming model and a case study used for demonstration are presented. This novel planning approach is adaptable to changes in products design and demands. It will impact the use of additive processes to manufacture product families and its cost. (C) 2019 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of CIRP.