scope:

Introduction and objective

CAD systems are widely used in industry. They are used in many applications in mechanical engineering, in plant design and in the electrical and electronics industries. Much of the system functionality is specific to the particular application. The functionality of a CAD system characterises the quality and quantity of input, processing and output functions it offers its users, both to support individual design activities, as well as to support the design processes of their organisations.

Typical individual design activities include, for example, the definition of requirements for a product, finding solutions, describing and presenting a solution, calculating and evaluating. Activities for the organisation of the design process include the customising of the CAD system for special design tasks, the organisation of knowledge about product development, and the management of design results.

CAD systems offer a multiplicity of functions to support these activities, in particular to build a so-called computer-based model of a design solution, from which it is then possible to produce other designs, presentations and data for other processes. CAD systems can be used to support the development of new solutions, to help develop and find standard parts and parts to be bought, and to develop and search for existing

From one CAD system to another, the structure and quantity of the data contained in a computer-based model for the description of the shape of a product (e.g. line model, surface model, solid model) may vary. The use functions and their application may also differ. The efficient use of functionality depends on the skill level of the users and the organisation of the user interface of the CAD system. Experience shows that the time for training users can vary from a few days to several weeks.

This time could be reduced if the development of use functions and the organisation of the user interface (e.g. the menu symbols) took place on the basis of uniform criteria. Knowledge acquired in training could then be used easily in practice.