A guide to engineering workstations: using workstations efficiently

The development of a distributed computing environment that ties together diverse design operations is discussed. A vast array of computer-aided engineering tools and related software is being integrated into a fully distributed, data-driven environment called the Grumman Computer/Information Integrated Enterprise (CIE). The decision was made to maintain Grumman´s CAD/CAM capabilities while controlling operating costs through effectively linked workstations. Crucial to the plan is the definition and implementation of a local-area network (LAN) strategy to link all the different types of machines together. The network tasks are defined, the current set-up is described, and past problems are reviewed. The plan for migration to an integrated electronic design system based on lower-cost, high-powered workstations operating in an open-architecture environment is discussed. An accompanying table gives an extensive sampling of commercially available workstations.<>