A framework to provide automated part grouping has been investigated in order to overcome the limitations found in existing part grouping techniques. The work is targeted at: exploration of criteria for feature-based part grouping to make the process planning activity efficient; determination of the optimal number of part families in the part grouping process; development of an experimental hybrid process planning system (HYCAPP); investigation of the effects of improved part grouping on manufacturing cell design. The research work has explored the creation of a feature-based component data model and manufacturing system capability data model, and checked the limitations inherent in existing part grouping techniques i.e. part grouping: around methods; based on part geometry; based on machining processes; and based on machines.