ABSTRACT
Product design is a purposeful process of involving creative thinking and problem solving. Emerging new techniques, technologies and globalisation of the product market are pushing creativity and product solutions to its limits. Facing intense market challenges, advanced design methodologies are being actively sought to reduce the time to market, leverage creativity and design intent. The use of 3D CAD (Computer Aided Design) tools is a prominent factor in shortening time to market and reducing product development costs. Product development has moved from physical to digital mock up with 3D CAD becoming part of a completely digital development process that includes design optimisation and prototype tooling (Delchambre, 1996).
