A method of manipulating manufacturing features in horizontally structured manufacturing process models for large parts, comprising: selecting a manufacturing feature from a plurality of manufacturing features; wherein the horizontally structured manufacturing process model includes a first master process model in a first file with an established coordinate system with an existing sequence of virtual machining each manufacturing feature of the plurality of manufacturing features into a virtual blank, and each manufacturing feature exhibiting an associative relationship with the coordinate system and the virtual blank. The method also includes relocating the selected manufacturing feature of another master process model; and re-sequencing the master process model to establish a new sequence for virtual machining each manufacturing feature of the plurality of manufacturing features into the virtual blank indicative of the relocating.