Acquiring and maintaining state-of-the-art DA systems

The authors describe ways to successfully acquire and maintain a state-of-the-art design automation (DA) environment. Information is presented on strategies for evaluating DA technologies, assessing and justifying their acquisition, negotiating their purchase, and resolving postsales issues with vendors. A practical strategy for managing and operating a working DA environment is outlined. The strategy is based on the use of standards and frameworks to create a plug and play environment. A structured plan for managing and expanding the design environment is presented, with emphasis on developing and implementing new capabilities