COMPUTER AIDED DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING I

INTRODUCTION 
The technology that has the greatest impact on the production system over the last decades is
computer technology. For any meaningful technological, or industrial design, or manufacturing
breakthrough in developing countries like Nigeria, it is time to abandon the old traditional ways
of manual preparation in favour of more consistent and faster tool as Computer-Aided
Design/Drafting/Manufacturing/Process Planning/Computer Aided Engineering
(CAD/CADD/CAM/CAPP/CAE), so that fast accurate data drawings and manufactured products
can be correctly obtained in good time.
The basic concepts, challenges and motivation of Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) in
developing countries like Nigerian is looked at in this paper using twenty six (26) Industries
scattered in the Southern part of Nigeria.
National and International competition in manufacturing is causing industrial leaders to look at
new strategies for remaining competitive and improving quality in their products.
Developments in the computer industry are having profound impact on the manufacturing
industries from design to machine processing as well as the management and marketing
components.
Governments of all industrialized countries place great emphasis on the development of their
manufacturing sectors. It is great importance, not only as a means of supporting sustainable
growth, but also because of the nature of the technological developments that have taken
place particularly over the last decade. Industrialization has a particular significant role to play
in the amelioration of power and unemployment. Acceleration of industrial development of any
nation depends on maximum utilization of Industrial Automation and Computer Aided
Engineering (CAE). Therefore, the Nigerian Industries will have to imbibe the Computer Aided
Engineering and its entire facet for improved productivity and rapid product development
The trend in manufacturing call for the development of the following modern day
manufacturing systems. There are:
- Global competition in the manufacturing market;
- Customers now demanded high-quality goods, with low production cost and timely
delivery of manufacturing products.
- Increase in the variety of products produced, thereby choosing the product life
cycles to be shorter.
Therefore, the modern day technology that manufacturing systems make use of are discussed
in this write up..
Manufacturing system entails a large number of interdependent activities consisting of distinct
entities such as materials, tools, machine, power, and human beings. It is a complex system
because it is comprised of many diverse physical and, human elements. The choice are manyso the manufacturing engineers should be able to select correct which one to choose, that will
profit the whole manufacturing system.

 BASIC CONCEPTS 
Computers are widely used throughout manufacturing industry. Hence in this paper
introduction is made to all the relevant basic concepts of the computer applications to
COMPUTER
Computer is a machine that handles information with amazing speed. It works with such
information as names and address hook titles, lists of item sold in stores, mathematical
problems and weather forecasts. It handles information in the form of numbers. It solves
problems dealing numbers. The fattest computers can do millions of problems in a few seconds
(4,5,6).
A computer by definition simply adds, subtracts, compares and store data. Computers are
universally recognized as the most powerful and effective tool for improving productivity in
industry, which is the single, most important concern of every manufacturing manager.
Computers excel in three areas of manufacture namely:
- Collecting information:
- Reaching a decision; and
- Issuing and order.