CAx/engineering data management integration: Enabler for methodical benefits in the design process

Although functionalities of engineering systems are rocketing, they currently cannot cope with the development of new engineering methods. Additionally, the data management systems and concepts of today fail to adequately support these innovative functionalities. The integration of new methods into existing and new system environments are often not taken into account. In addition to the optimization of individual tool functionalities, integrated system architectures are needed. This paper will take a look at today’s and tomorrow’s engineering practices, showing that major benefits can only be achieved if based on a thorough concept of engineering system integration. Different integration concepts are elaborated, with some of them being already applied in a prototypical implementation in existing processes. First results are presented and discussed.