Innovation and manufacturability analysis in an integrated design context

In an integrated design modeller system, the constraints due to all the act ors of the life cycle of a mechanical product need to be considered as earl y as possible while designing. Two complementary aspects dealing with that issue are presented here. The functions-structures databases allow product innovation and solution proposals during the early design stages. A manufac turability analysis is made through specific domain tools modelling the man ufacturing process, proposing pieces of the part definition. (C) 2000 Elsev ier Science B.V. All rights reserved.