Due to the increased complexity of modem manufacturing facilities and the increased
demands for product variability and system flexibility there is a need for coherent formal
representation of the basic knowledge domains supporting manufacturing applications
such as equipment selection. The paper presents an integrated framework for equipment
selection based upon describing process capability at generic, machine tool and
manufacturing system levels. The decision making process is designed as a sequence of steps
for transforming component design information into processing requirements which are
mapped into specific physical machines organised as a processing system