Patent ID: 8595171

Claim:
A computer implemented method for validating a rule set for applicable checks of a part, comprising: generating a design of the part using a computer aided design application; querying a validation rule set, the validation rule set being produced by translating an inputted set of design requirements, the validation rule set corresponding to a plurality of datatypes including at least one of part files, sheet-metal files, and master files; correlating a part data to said validation rule set; comparing the design of the part against said part data to determine whether the design of the part passes a plurality of checks in the validation rule set, the plurality of checks including one or more requirements for the design of the part at a plurality of events throughout the design of the part; and whereby said part is approved at an event in the plurality of events, wherein each step is performed by a data processing system, wherein the plurality of checks include mandatory checks and optional checks for the one or more requirements for the design of the part, wherein the design of the part is compared against each of the mandatory checks and optional checks for the one or more requirements for the design of the part, and wherein results from the optional checks are not included in approving the design of the part at the event.