CAD: A lean engineering tool. Impacting human efficiency in the design engineering process

This case study examines the relationship between Computer aided Design (CAD), design engineering, and human efficiency as driving factors for the overall business effectiveness in product development. Information was gathered from managers and design engineers from an aerospace company. Their perceptions and experience were gathered in order to determine their satisfaction, and CAD effectiveness within the enterprise. Critical Success Factors (CSF) was determined as CAD is used within organizations. This research is done in response to the need expressed by engineering managers within the organization.; The theoretical basis for this case study is based on a software application and its success within the design engineering community. It was analyzed as the core theory, and is based on determining CSF Information Technology (IT) within several companies. CSF is defined as the limited number of areas in which results if they are satisfactory will ensure successful competitive performance for the organization.; A representative number (100 approximately of total sample population) of respondents were drawn from the selected design community of the company. Several engineering organizations were assessed as they utilize several CAD packages. The engineering community routinely uses these CAD software applications during their daily task.; The hypotheses were tested for its validity as well as the relationship between the independent primary and secondary variables, dependent variables.; Additionally, CAD tools supporting Lean Engineering (LE) were described and their relationship to design engineering, and human efficiency. The importance of LE tools was established as an aid for organizational benchmarking.; Conclusions were drawn from the survey results and suggestions for future areas were given. It was determined that CAD does have a positive influence in the design engineering process as well as in the human effectiveness.; There are still a number of areas due to the limitation of this dissertation that cannot be studied. These areas will need special attention as IT further developments continue to enhance CAD capabilities.