January 19, 1998 Design News

GUEST COMMENTARY Exclusive interviews with technology leaders

Design engineering is moving to a model-centric process

John J. Mazzola, President EDS Unigraphics Maryland Heights, MO

In CAD, a major obstacle to its full use has been the difficulty of exchanging data. Now, says Mazzola, the vision of a master model to solve that is coming to realization.

Design News: What is the major trend in CAD today?

Mazzola: The process of design is moving from being drawing-centric to model-centric and master-model-centric. The master model is the central repository of the product's definition. Engineers know that with a master model easier change management and quicker time to market is possible. Key technologies for this are still evolving, including product data management, the Internet, and CAE. The restraining factor in CAD has been exchanging data, but standard solid (kernel) modelers are now helping in that task. The point is that the master model concept is now achievable.

Q: Where is the excitement in CAD today?

A: Virtual prototypes and the ability to do fly-throughs of parts--that's pretty exciting. We talked about that in CAD 15 years ago, but until we got the computing power we couldn't do it. It's still limited, of course. But, you can build 20,000-part assemblies with complex parts and manage them. That's an event. When you model your product, you realize how much data you have. Product data management helps you handle the data. A few years ago, there was only drawing management, so the technology is evolving, and that also is exciting.

Q: What is the impact of the Internet on CAD?

A: Once you have the master model, you must provide access to it to people in different locations. That's connectivity, and that's what the Web facilitates. Certainly engineers will eventually be able to get product upgrades over the Web, but the more important impact is access to the model definition that the Web will provide.

Q: What's the next big breakthrough in CAD?

A: Breakthroughs are hard to predict, but one important area is interoperability between CAD systems. There will be more acceptance of objects, kernels, and modules so people can use a common set of tools.

Q: What is the significance of EDS' Parasolid kernel?

A: Kernals like Parasolid make master models possible. Parasolid is a pipeline for data that allows greater interoperability. This is an extremely powerful capability, which is why we have developed and promoted the product.

Q: Are we really getting closer to interoperability?

A: Absolutely. If CAD/CAM systems are using the same kernel modeler, data can easily move among the systems. Today, Unigraphics, Intergraph's Solid Edge, Dassault's SolidWorks, Parametric Technology's DesignWave, and Bentley's MicroStation Modeler all use Parasolid. We have also published our Parasolid XT data format, which is our standard method for saving 3-D geometry, topology and attribute data. This should attract additional vendors. With Parasolid as the defacto industry standard, interoperability is more than a wish.

Q: What is the biggest user benefit of EDS' joint venture with Intergraph to develop and market Solid Edge as part of a separate subsidiary?

A: The benefit is interoperability. Solid Edge customers are enthralled by that product. The Windows environment is easy and the product has a lot of functionality. But, users fear they will outgrow it. We now can offer a pipeline to a high-end system, Unigraphics, and all other applications using the Parasolid kernel.

Q: What is the significance of the adoption by General Motors of Unigraphics as its core CAD system?

A: GM is the largest manufacturer in the world. We have 7,000 seats of Unigraphics there now, and we will have 10,000. The supplier network has a potential 30,000 seats. GM sells about 17% of all the vehicles in the world, so this gives us the chance to participate worldwide. For GM, we can give them the master model capabilities they want. There is an infinite number of designs they can employ in developing a car, and GM wants to iterate as many of them up front as possible. We are giving GM engineers the tools they need to achieve their design intent.