Abstract: Process planning is a key function of manufacturing companies that is responsible for the determination of methods by which a product is to be manufactured economically and competitively. To efficiently perform this function, computer-aided process planning (CAPP) systems are widely used. On the other hand, scheduling is another important function of manufacturing companies that gives the time each manufacturing operation should start and finish on assigned machine for the due dates of manufactured products to be efficiently met. Many computer-aided scheduling (CAS) systems are being used for the optimization of scheduling function. Unfortunately, because a poor collaboration or integration of CAPP and CAS systems, scheduling problems may occur in overloaded shops or high production costs may be obtained even for optimized process plans. The CAPP-CAS software that will be discussed during the lecture is a solution to overcome process planning and scheduling collaboration problems at make-to-order manufacturing of machined parts. There will be described the working sessions with the software, in terms of inputted data and outputted results. Some concluding remarks will be made on the quality of planning and scheduling solutions delivered by the software and on its future development.

Brief Biography of the Speaker:
Madalin Catana graduated in 1991 the Faculty of Machine Manufacturing Technology from Polytechnic Institute of Bucharest, Romania. He received his Ph.D. degree in Industrial Engineering from University POLITEHNICA of Bucharest, Romania, in 2002, with a thesis on computer-aided process structure planning and scheduling of machining and assembly processes in machine manufacturing industry. Since 1998 he is a lecturer in the department of Machine Manufacturing Technology, Faculty of Engineering and Management of Technological Systems, University POLITEHNICA of Bucharest.
His current research interests include manufacturing technologies, production management, modeling and simulation of manufacturing processes and systems, and CAD/CAPP/CAM technologies. He has co-authored more than 40 papers published in Romanian technical journals and proceedings of national and international conferences, and 10 academic books and laboratory guides on production engineering and management, assembly and machining technologies, and computer numerical control programming. He performed researches within 6 national research projects.
At present, he is a member of Academic Association of Manufacturing Engineering, Romania, and of Romanian Association for Economic Engineering.