Implications of group technology in automated standard data systems

Group technology may be defined as collecting components into groups to exploit their similarities in the production process. While initially used as an organizational method in small-batch manufacturing, group technology has been recognized to have much broader applications in computer-aided design and manufacturing. A new area for application is automated standard data systems. Integration of automated process planning and standard development can result in more effective planning and can allow further breadth of application of group technology into more labor-intensive manufacturing operations.