Implementation of CAD/CAM in a Consumer Electronics Company 840763

CAD/CAM has been implemented at AT&T Consumer Products to improve the efficiency of data flow from design concept to manufacturing of the product. CAD/CAM has enhanced conceptual design and engineering processes, reconfigured product documentation, improved prototyping methods, and changed the interface to manufacturing. There are three interconnected turnkey CAD/CAM systems at AT&T CP-IN. The engineering system serves the engineer as a scratch pad for producing conceptual design and analysis, and is also used for “beta-site” testing of the complete CAD/CAM system for enhancements and for evaluating future technology. The second system resides in the Engineering Information Department and is used for design documentation and modeling. The manufacturing system is used to transpose design information for manufacturing, inspection, and quality control. The systems are separate by the way each has been configured to do its designated tasks and yet, the systems are connected by the data flow required to integrate the CAD/CAM process.