Driving toward feature-based virtual prototyping

Corporations envision virtual prototyping as creating intelligent computer-based models that accurately capture product content, generate and simulate manufacturing processes, and reliably predict product behavior. Ideally, design begins with function-centric views of products, which are ultimately assembled into a complete product definition. If this could be accomplished the information content of virtual prototypes could also be leveraged to support diverse enterprise activities such as cost estimation, marketing, and material-requirements planning throughout the product's lifecycle.