CAPP

CAPP is an acronym used in multiple contexts, but it is most widely associated with Computer-Aided Process Planning. In manufacturing and engineering, CAPP systems assist engineers and production planners in determining the sequence of operations, selecting machines, tooling, and fixtures, and generating the process documentation and NC programs needed to manufacture a part. They translate design data from CAD models into shop-floor instructions and integrate with CAD/CAM, ERP, and MES environments to create a digital thread from design to production. CAPP methods can be generative, which automatically create process routes from design features, or variant/heuristic, which adapt existing routes to new parts. Typical workflows include feature recognition, operation sequencing, resource assignment, time and cost estimation, and documentation generation. Over time, CAPP has evolved from rule-based systems to knowledge-based and AI-assisted approaches, improving customization, reuse of processes, and alignment with manufacturing constraints and sustainability goals. Adoption varies by industry and company size, and successful use often requires clean data, cross-functional collaboration, and effective system integration.

Other uses of the acronym exist in different domains, including organizations, programs, and projects. In those contexts, CAPP does not have a single universal definition, so the intended meaning is inferred from the surrounding context.