Recently, extensive efforts have been made on the application of expert system technique to solving the process planning task in the machining domain. This paper introduces a new formal method to design CAPP expert systems. The formal method is applied to provide a contour of the CAPP expert system building technology. Theoretical aspects of the formalism are described and illustrated by an example of know-how analysis. Flexible facilities to utilize multiple knowledge types and multiple planning strategies within one system are provided by the technology.