A progress report on the manufacturing analysis service, an Internet-based reference tool

The Manufacturing Analysis Service (MAS) is an Internet-based engineering reference tool. Based on various input parameters provided by the remote designer, the MAS determines which manufacturing processes are most relevant to the inputted part. The goal is to provide the designer with knowledge of the future production requirements of the part. The service provides advice that, first, indicates which manufacturing process is the most suited to the emerging design and, second, how the design could best be modified to satisfy the constraints of that particular process. The MAS can also be used as a "library" of manufacturing techniques since it contains detailed web sites for 13 manufacturing processes.