Computer-aided electronic systems design

As computers became more plentiful and more powerful, design entry tools and design visualization tools became available. Text editors and timesharing systems enabled a user to edit the SPICE description as a text file and interactively simulate the circuit. The introduction of graphic display terminals and output devices such as low-cost plotters enabled the Simula-tion results to be displayed in a visual and hence easier to comprehend manner. Even today, nearly 30 years on, SPICE and variants of SPICE are still widely used in the simulation process. 

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Computer-aided automation of process design requires a whole new approach to part manufacture and assembly planning. This centres on the decision logics, formulae, algorithms and data extractions. This approach is labelled as the Generative Method [4]. Examples of such procedures are Decision Trees, Decision Tables, Axiomatic and Expert systems. Regardless of their approach they remain complex in nature and this led to the specific applications, such as those in sheet metal fabrications and electronics manufacture, where parameters are more... 

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