Rethinking CAD tools through their use?

摘要

Studying the complex interactions of different point of view (i.e. technical, human, economical*) in the mechanical design process activity leads to develop a new approach of the CAD tools structure. The nature of the manipulated objects (i.e.plans, CAD models*) teaches us a lot about the mechanical design activity as it actually is. Through an empirical study done in RenaultVehicules Industriels (RVI) company, regarding the forged-part design process, we propose to look at the design activity at the lowest level. We point out some specific facts which show the task interrelations, the distributed and, eventually, the complex nature of the activity. The actors co-operate in different ways, using tools and objects. The analysis of this activity indicates some research directions in the design of new CAD tools for a co-design environment.