• additive manufacturing
• cost evaluation
• energy consumption
• Process chain description

This research presents the existing methods utilized for the description of process chains, and point out their limit, that is the lack of standardization. The main problem related to the absence of generic models is the time wasted in the creation of a tailored process chain description for every new product introduced into the market. The aim of the work is the introduction of a generic model that can be used for mapping any manufacturing system. Another innovative element of this work is the importance given to the assessment not only of cost and time, but also of energy consumption and environmental impact related to the manufacturing activities. Those two aspects, generally not included in the existing models, have been introduced into the chain description because of the growing importance recently given to the reduction of the environmental impact of production systems. The developed model enables the evaluation of different solutions for the production of the same item, so as the user can choose the best option, according to his priorities (minimize the energy consumption, the machining time, the quality, etc.). The chain is described as a sum of modules, which contain the description of a specific manufacturing process (milling, turning, etc.).