ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the working of commonly used IPPS approaches viz.: Non-Linear Approach (NLA), Closed Loop Approach (CLA), and Distributed Approach (DA). NLA is also termed as multiple process planning or flexible process planning or alternative process planning or non-linear process planning IPPS approach. In NLA, before a job enters the shop floor, multiple process plans (MPP) of the job are created by considering various manufacturing flexibility characteristics like operation flexibility, sequencing flexibility, and processing flexibility. In CLA, every time an operation is completed on the shop floor, a feature-based workpiece description is studied in order to determine the next operation and to allocate the resources. DA is also called a just-in-time (JIT) approach or phased approach or progressive approach. In DA, both process planning and scheduling work in two phases, i.e. the preplanning phase and final planning phase. In this chapter, the IPPS approaches proposed by various researchers based on NLA, CLA, DA, and other approaches have been presented in brief. Also, the benefits and drawbacks of these approaches have been identified. In the end, the analysis of IPPS approaches has been presented.
