# Using Process Designer

Define a part, create a project, add a job with a machine assignment, and define its operations.

Source: https://support.toolingmetrics.com/en/engineering/tutorials/process-designer/
Updated: 2026-10-29

**Prerequisites:** At least one machine exists in your organization.  
**Required permission:** Engineering → Parts, Projects, and Jobs — User or above. Admins can change any part, project, or job; Managers and Users only the ones they created.

An **Engineering Project** documents the full manufacturing process for a part. It contains one or more **Jobs**, each representing a single machine setup. Each job contains **Operations** — the individual machining steps with assigned tool assemblies and cutting parameters.

In this tutorial you will create a demo part and its first project, then document the job and its operations by hand:

1. [Create a part](#create-a-part) with all technical documents attached.
2. Create an empty engineering project, add a job, and [add its operations](#add-operations).

## Create a part

1. In the sidebar, click **Engineering → Parts** → **+ Create**.
1. Enter the **Part Number** and **Name** (e.g., *DEMO-001* and *Demo Bracket*).
1. Optionally select a **Material** from the library and attach a drawing or 3D model.
1. Click **Create**.

## Create a project

1. In the sidebar, click **Engineering → Projects** → **+ Create**.
1. Enter the project **Name** (e.g., *Demo Bracket - Rev A*).
1. Enable **Multiple jobs setup** only if every job in this project runs on the same machine with different clampings or fixtures. Leave it off for this tutorial. (With it enabled, all jobs must use one machine; for jobs on different machines, leave it off.)
1. Click **Create**.

## Add a job

1. Open the project, click the **Process** tab, and click **+** at the bottom of the job list.
1. Enter the job **Name** (e.g., *Op 10 - Milling*).
1. Select the **Machine** that will perform this job.
1. Click **Create**.

The project now has one job. The job's status is **Draft** — it is not visible to production yet. The next step is to add operations.

## Add operations

An **Operation** is one machining step — for example, a face milling pass or a drilling cycle. Each operation is assigned a tool assembly from the library, a tool number, and an estimated cycle time.

### Open the operations tab

1. Open the project and click into the job.
1. Click the **Operations** tab.

### Add an operation

1. Click **+** at the bottom of the operation list.
1. Enter the operation **Name** or number (e.g., *10 - Face Mill* or *T01 Facing*).
1. Select the **Tool Assembly** from the searchable/filterable dropdown.
1. Enter the **Tool No.**
1. Enter the **Est. Cycle Time** in seconds — this is required.
1. Click **Create**.

### Add more operations

Repeat the steps above for each operation in the job. Operations are ordered by their position in the list — drag to reorder.

Prefer to generate operations from an NC program instead? See [Connect CAM Software](https://support.toolingmetrics.com/en/integrations/cam-connect/autodesk-fusion/) or the [Define Operations guide](https://support.toolingmetrics.com/en/engineering/guides/define-operations/).

## What to expect

Each operation appears as a row in the **Operations** tab with its tool assembly and tool number. The **Tool List** tab on the job automatically aggregates all unique tool assemblies across operations — this is what drives the setup sheet and pick list.

## Next

[Release a Setup Sheet](https://support.toolingmetrics.com/en/engineering/tutorials/project-release-approval/) — review the job and release it so production can see the instructions and prepare tools.