A method of establishing a generic set of process descriptions in a computer-aided process engineering system, said method executing on a computer, said computer including a memory, the method comprising:
- storing a set of actions in said memory, each of said actions representing steps in a process described by one of said process descriptions;
- storing a set of materials in said memory, each of said materials capable of being used with at least one of said actions;
- storing a set of technologies in said memory, each of said technologies capable of being used with at least one of said materials to perform at least one of said actions;
- repeatedly associating one of said actions with one of said materials to generate a plurality of first process types;
- repeatedly associating one of said actions and one of said materials with one of said technologies to generate a plurality of second process types;
- providing said first and second process types to said computer-aided process engineering system, said computer-aided process engineering system operable to control a machine operable to perform said process in accordance with said first and second process types to achieve a desired result.