Product configuration is the process of generating a product
variant from a previously defined product family model and
additional product specifications for this variant. The process
of finding and sequencing the relevant operations for manufacturing
this product is called process planning. This article combines
the two principles in a new concept of process configuration
that solves the process planning task using product configuration
methods. The second section develops characteristics for two
process configuration concepts, the interactive process
configuration and the automation-based process configuration.
Following an overview of the implementation of a process
configuration system, the results of a case study in the aluminum
rolling industry are presented. The main benefits of the process
configuration concept are observed in a reduced
knowledge-maintenance effort and in increased problem-solving
speed.