USING CAD/CAM TO IMPROVE PRODUCTIVITY: THE IPAD APPROACH.

CAD/CAM can be defined most simply as the use of computers to translate a product's specific requirements into the final physical product. It plays a key role in areas such as design, analysis, detailing, documentation, N/C programming, tooling, fabrication, assembly, quality control, and testing. What is needed to optimize this technology is the use of computers to integrate company-wide management of engineering information. This helps to optimize the engineering work environment and identify and develop the required CAD/CAM technology. Detailed in the article is a description of a joint NASA/industry project, Integrated Programs for Aerospace-Vehicle Design (IPAD), that is using this approach to greatly improve aerospace productivity. In addition to the References, a list of 9 items ″for further reading″ is appended.