The role of process planning in small-batch, discrete parts metal working industries and the impact of the computer in automating this important but tedious job are discussed. The nature, advantages, and limitations of the manual, variant, and generative approaches to process planning are presented along with a review of the progress to date for each approach. A major thrust of the paper is to discuss approaches and strategies for structuring manufacturing methods and data in decision logic formats applicable for developing generative type automated planning systems. Although no particular approach is promoted, the paper provides an overview and information useful for approaching the task of designing a generative type system. Some detailed discussion on part coding schemes and structuring decision logic for generative type planning systems is also presented. The paper concludes with a brief discussion of the future of computer-aided process planning and the role that micro-computers will play in that future.