This paper presents a knowledge-based computer aided process planning system that automatically selects machine tools, machining operations and cutting tools and determines sequences of the machining operations for prismatic parts in die manufacturing. In the proposed system, parts are described by manufacturing features and grouped into part families based on the functions. Each part is repressented by a part frame which consists of basic data and manufacturing features. Knowledge for manufacturing is acquired from the domain expert and represented by frames. A decision model for selection of machine tools, machining operations and cutting tools and for determining sequences of the machining operations are developed by employing the Mealy machine in finite automata with output. The decision procedure and the order of priority which inputs manufacturing features into the Mealy machine are represented by rule for each part family. Backward chaining is used for the proposed system. The proposed system is implemented by using TURBO-PROLOG on the IBM PC/AT. A case study for the slide core is presented to show the function of the proposed system.