| -link"> | | | | environment. Following the work of the design |
| | | | engineer, a production engineer then creates a bill of |
| Examines ERP and CAD Integration in | | | | materials (BOM), based on how it will be |
| Engineer-to-Order Environment | | | | manufactured, not on how the product is designed. |
| In the Engineer-to-Order (ETO) world the role of the | | | | Thomas R. Cutler, who founded the Manufacturing |
| design engineer is very different. By its nature an | | | | Media Consortium in 1999, has grown the participation |
| ETO company builds a unique product designed to | | | | from 300 journalists to more than two thousands |
| meet the specification of a single customer. The two | | | | key clients, journalists, editors, trendsetters, and key |
| worlds of design and manufacturing are closely linked. | | | | business leaders worldwide. Cutler has authored more |
| In many cased the design of the product continues | | | | than 1000 articles for a wide range of manufacturing |
| through the product process (design-in-process), | | | | periodicals, industrial publications, and business journals |
| incorporating a multitude of engineering changes. | | | | including most of the leading monthly trade |
| These changes can be driven by the customer or by | | | | publications. Cutler is the author of The |
| the manufacturer. In this environment a seamless | | | | Manufacturers’ Public Relations and Media |
| flow of data between engineering and production is | | | | Guide. Cutler was voted #1 Manufacturing Journalist |
| critical. An ETO company must integrate CAD and | | | | for the third year in a row. The firm has forty-two |
| ERP. | | | | employees worldwide. TR Cutler, Inc., ( is the nation's |
| The current issue of includes a feature article by | | | | largest manufacturing marketing and public relations |
| contributing editor, Thomas R. Cutler about ERP and | | | | firm, based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. |
| CAD integration in the ETO (Engineer-to-Order) | | | | is for manufacturers and suppliers of industrial, |
| Environment. According to Cutler’s feature, | | | | factory and process automation, motion control, |
| traditional ERP systems were developed for the | | | | machine control, process control and instrumentation |
| repetitive, make-to-stock manufacturer, where there | | | | products and services. attracts engineers, |
| is a clear demarcation between design and | | | | programmers, designers, technicians and other |
| production. In that environment the engineer designs | | | | professionals who specify, purchase and use control |
| the product in a CAD application. After testing and | | | | systems, software, robotics, sensors and other |
| prototyping, the product is released to production, | | | | supporting products to automate machines, |
| which is managed by the ERP system. | | | | equipment and factories in both discrete and |
| The design engineer has little or no interaction with | | | | continuous manufacturing processes. |
| the ERP system and works quite happily in a CAD | | | | TR Cutler, Inc. |