# Implementing CAD API Automated Processes in Engineering Design: A Case Study Approach
###### Abstract
According to questionnaires sent out to engineers, 20-30% of the time spent on information-based tasks is devoted to researching specific information and data [9]. Furthermore, data organization is considered of paramount importance for a product's traceability. The word \"traceability\", derived from the word \"trace\", refers to the ability to \"track\" and \"trace\" the history, location, and lifecycle of a product by utilizing data stored. To achieve this, data should be inseparable from a product and marked by a unique number. In addition, for the acquisition and organization of engineering data, the repeatability factor must be taken into consideration. Acceptable information retrieval times can be assessed not only when human error is eliminated, but also when the data storage process is carried out automatically. CAD (computer-aided design) API, a set of programming interfaces that allows developers to interact with and extend the functionality of CAD software, enabling the automation of design tasks, customization of workflows, and integration with external systems, may be utilized across a wide range of industries and types of companies where automation and customization are significant factors for corporate development. Beyond engineering, some of them include manufacturing, construction, product design and consumer goods, renewable energy, supply chain, as well as research and academia for performing experimental design and analysis. The objectives of this study are as follows: (a) improving the optimization of the design process using the example of engines' parts and turbochargers; (b) guaranteeing the traceability of the documentation of each specific product; and (c) automating repetitive tasks for minimizing human error. In view of all the elements described above, the aim of this paper is to propose and implement a fully modular optimization approach to streamline design workflows. The specific methodology is applied to mechanical engineering for the documentation of a newly designed product. To this end, our study will be based on the Application Programming Interface (API) of Autodesk Inventor (San Francisco, CA, USA), a computer-aided design (CAD) tool widely used and recognized in the world of mechanical engineering. Nevertheless, due to the wide area of CAD API's implementation, the methodology may be generalized and be applicable to other sectors. The present work aligns with the context of knowledge-based engineering (KBE), which represents a technology at the intersection of many fundamental disciplines, including computer programming, CAD, and artificial intelligence (AI) [10,11]. To the authors' knowledge, the research gap that has been identified is the fact that there are no published literature works on the direct link between design applications and technical information. Therefore, the key objective is to build a multidisciplinary approach to information storage, including not only formal but also informal ones [12]. In the end, in order to meet the aforementioned requirements dictated in automated processes, a script, created using Visual Basic for Applications (VBA), was developed and implemented using Autodesk Inventor API (V2022). This automated process interacts directly with the user, resolving human errors and archiving design data more efficiently. Based on the challenges outlined above, this study addresses the following three key research questions: (RQ1) To what extent can a company's design process be optimized using Autodesk Inventor's API? (RQ2) Can documentation tasks be automated to both eliminate human error and ensure traceability? (RQ3) How many aspects of this process can be automated while accounting for practical limitations? The proposed methodology leverages the modular structure of CAD APIs in conjunction with a design intent-oriented approach, implemented through a Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) script in Autodesk Inventor.