Concurrent design [electronic engineering]

The concept of concurrent design involves a multifunction design team which is highly structured with greater responsibility and authority than the conventional approach. Each member of the team has a responsibility to lend expertise in developing the best product possible within given cost and schedule constraints. To accomplish this task, the design team requires a set of tools which are flexible and can be accessed in an effective and efficient manner. A description is given of the University of Maryland computer-aided life-cycle engineering (CALCE) system, an example of a life-cycle engineering environment for concurrent design of electronic equipment. Foreground and background modes of operation and hierarchical constructs in CALCE are discussed. Ideally, the concurrent design approach to life-cycle engineering enhances the performance of a design group by promoting interaction and communication among the specialists in the group, provides integration of management into design and production and allows interaction of the designer with a pool of knowledge consisting of pertinent data and fellow workers involved in the design process