Abstract
Increasing emphasis is now being placed on the benefits of an integrated system with the basic information generated at the draughting stage being held on the computer and manipulated to produce cost estimates, drawings, production control information, machine control and certification of quality. The integration of these functions, together with the integration of component production, prototype manufacture and toolmaking, can result in reduction of both lead times and cost of production. The application of CAD/CAM within Delta is of general interest because Delta's companies (average size 300–400 employees) are in many ways typical of mechanical engineering companies and the specification of the computer aided design and manufacturing system which Delta has introduced, would be applicable to many small to medium sized engineering companies.
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