Manufacturing information interactions in data model driven design

This paper presents a novel view of a software environment that has the pot ential to provide manufacturing information support to product design in li ne with the aims of concurrent engineering. The arguments developed should have significant consequences for future computer aided engineering (CAE) s ystems development and support the continuing globalization in business dev elopment. The approach taken has at the centre of its philosophy the need t o provide designers with high-quality information on which to base their de cisions. The concept of an information supported product design environment is not new, but a range of issues related to information interactions has yet to be resolved. This paper explores the use of information models to su pport functional and manufacturing interactions in design as well as the is sues that are raised in attempting to support multiple views in design for manufacture. The design of injection moulded products is used as the focus against which the ideas in the paper are explored.