Managing an Evolving Data Management System

Abstract

In thirty years engineering data bases will be fully unified. Group technology will use solid geometric models in computer integrated manufacturing throughout the product life cycle, from design through decomissioning.

Engineering graphics managers are responsible for facilitating their organization’s smooth transition to the new environment. This paper describes the sequencing of application of automation that will allow these managers to move their organization’s engineering graphics towards its complete integration with other components of the factory of the future. Areas covered are: image digitizing, image storage and archiving, image transmission, hard and soft copy image display, image update standards, and control of the image base.

Existing image bases, principally residing on aperture cards and tracings, are presented as the initial steps in a sequence leading to a totally automated system. The evolution of film and digital media equipment and procedures to be used during the transition is described in detail.