Till now, the STEP data exchange standard has been widely accepted in concept, but not really in practice. But that's changing in the automotive industry as more and more tests show STEP translators can effectively exchange information and CAD vendors start announcing STEP products. A rapid prototyping system is now available that makes parts and molds from powder that's melted by a laser, then solidified in place based on a computer program. Although that may sound familiar to those who are acquainted with rapid prototyping techniques, what makes this system different is that metal powder being melted can even be tool steel. Now the factories where those products are being produced with those processes are also being created with the software.
Visualization is an affordable technology for quickly and realistically depicting data visually.
Most companies use CAD models to develop products. A number of companies are using simulation software to figure out how to best arrange their manufacturing resources, such as people and equipment. Rakesh Mahajan thinks that a real competitive advantage will be found by companies that do the best job of defining and refining their processes. It sounds improbable, but 3D Engineering, Inc. has proven that it's not impossible. The shift is on to using lighter materials for the vehicles at Ford, with aluminum being an important aspect of this shift.