ABSTRACT
Computer-aided design (CAD) systems are based either on solid modeling, which is used mainly by the automobile, aerospace, and consumer electronics industries, or two-dimensional systems, of which the more advanced can also build up three-dimensional models. To maximize the benefits of concurrent engineering, the current trend toward increased CAD and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) must be exploited. Even without an integrated system, the use of CAD allows manufacturing engineers and the suppliers of machines and components to see the real product, whether it is still at the concept stage or is a finalized design. Most CAD packages maintain a common set of data that can be used for design or manufacture, but there are limitations to its use in manufacture at present. Japanese automobile manufacturers have tended to develop their own CAD systems, either from the outset or from a standard package, because they require a larger number of functions than American companies.
