DESIGN TRENDS AND ADVANCEMENTS FOR THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY

摘要

The manufacturing industry is challenged with an increasing need to reduce design cycle times while satisfying global regulations on product safety, and environmental concerns. Companies must also respond to customers who demand high-quality, well-designed products with individual appeal. Computer technology provides essential benefits to the manufacturing industry in addressing these challenges by enabling substantial improvements to the conventional process of product design and manufacturing. This paper reviews several examples from the automotive industry on advancements from the deployment of computer technology. Introduction The growing complexity of today's global manufacturing industry is driven both by market trends and technology directions. Consumer desires and government regulations continue to influence product design features, but recent advancements in computer technology are emerging as the competitive difference for many manufacturers. Effective and lasting market leadership in the manufacturing industry is achieved for those manufacturers who have implemented innovation and flexibility through application of computer technology in their development process. Computer-aided design (CAD) software for surface styling, component design and digital mock-up, and computer-aided engineering (CAE) for functional evaluation are the core tools used in this technology driven product development process.