In a method for generating a numerical control program, information related to the shape of a material is acquired, the shape of a flange is categorized on the basis of the acquired information related to the shape of the material, a gripping part for gripping the material during processing of the material is set on the basis of the acquired information related to the shape of the material and flange categorization information, the raw material shape necessary for processing the material is calculated on the basis of the acquired information related to the shape of the material, the flange categorization information, and gripping part setting information.

Provided is a plant material recommendation apparatus, which includes: a plant material database unit storing a plant material environment and a plant material pre-constructed in a currently installed plant facility; a coarse intended plant material environment receiving unit receiving a coarse intended plant material environment; a standard plant material environment creating unit creating a standard plant material environment; an actual plant material environment creating unit converting the standard plant material environment into an actual plant material environment; a candidate plant material determining unit providing at least one recommended plant material which may be used in the actual plant material environment to a user terminal and receiving a candidate material selection reason for each of at least one candidate plant material; and a final plant material determining unit analyzing all candidate material selection reasons for at least one candidate plant material to a final plant material.

A method of additive manufacture of a constituent part of an item is described. The method comprises the following steps. A specification of characteristics is provided for the constituent part. A composition determination system is then used to identify a composition comprising a plurality of component materials predicted to comply with the specification of characteristics. The composition determination system is a system trained using a database of known materials. The constituent part of the item is then manufactured according to the composition identified by the composition determination system using an additive manufacturing system. Items may be manufactured with a plurality of constituent parts each manufactured this way. A method of establishing a computer-implemented composition determination system for manufacture of items and a control system for additive manufacture of an item using heterogeneous materials by an additive manufacturing system are also described.

A manufacturing process management (MPM) computer device is provided. The MPM computer device includes a processor and at least one memory device. The processor is in communication with the at least one memory device. The MPM computer device is configured to receive a first engineering design for a first configuration of a product to be assembled including a plurality of features, determine a plurality of parts associated with the plurality of features based on the received engineering design, and prior to completion of a manufacturing process plan, generate a manufacturing bill of materials based on the determined plurality of parts.

A computer-implemented method for selecting materials of components of a product to be manufactured. The method includes obtaining a set of materials for the components of the product. The method also includes obtaining, for each component, a set of use and/or manufacturing and/or material constraints for the component. The method also includes obtaining, for the product, a set of use and/or manufacturing constraints for the product. The method also includes obtaining, for the product, one or more material compatibility constraints. The method also includes obtaining specifications. The specifications indicate an extent of compatibility of one or more reference materials within the set of materials with the constraints. The method also includes determining, for each component of the product, at least one optimal material, with respect to compatibility with the constraints and based on the provided specifications, for manufacturing the component.

A manufacturing process management (MPM) computer device is provided. The MPM computer device includes a processor and at least one memory device. The processor is in communication with the at least one memory device. The MPM computer device is configured to receive a first engineering design for a first configuration of a product to be assembled including a plurality of features, determine a plurality of parts associated with the plurality of features based on the received engineering design, and prior to completion of a manufacturing process plan, generate a manufacturing bill of materials based on the determined plurality of parts.

A manufacturing process management (MPM) computer device is provided. The MPM computer device includes a processor and at least one memory device. The processor is in communication with the at least one memory device. The MPM computer device is configured to receive a first engineering design for a first configuration of a product to be assembled including a plurality of features, determine a plurality of parts associated with the plurality of features based on the received engineering design, and prior to completion of a manufacturing process plan, generate a manufacturing bill of materials based on the determined plurality of parts.