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Current advances in information technology and, in particular, computer‐aided design/computer‐aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) and enterprise resources planning (ERP) systems, have led organisations to undertake significant investments in these systems. Next generation manufacturers require both systems to maintain or gain a competitive advantage, reduce risks and improve productivity and viability. In addition, recent attention to the implementation of CAD/CAM systems highlights their important role in automating complex design and next generation manufacturing processes. In the next millennium more manufacturers are likely to implement CAD/CAM and ERP systems and hence issues in the integration of CAD/CAM with ERP systems must become a major concern. Accordingly, this paper will: explore the problems of integration of CAD/CAM systems with ERP systems; study how the severity of these problems relates to CAD/CAM integration success; propose a set of critical success factors (CSF) for the integration of CAD/CAM with ERP systems; suggest hypotheses to study the relevance of these CSF for successful integration of CAD/CAM with ERP systems. In addition, the paper also demonstrates the importance of successful integration of CAD/CAM systems with other applications for next generation manufacturers. These findings suggest that integration of CAD/CAM systems with ERP systems is complex, involving many factors.

Cost reduction through the use of technology has become the competitive strength of companies. The benefits of technology integration are quite credible and have been effective in business competition. The purpose of this paper is to describe an integrated manufacturing strategy for the deployment of a CAD/CAM system in a small, medium manufacturing enterprise (SMME).

A case study of a SMME is utilised in deploying an integrated CAD/CAM system for practical application of manufacturing technology for achieving sustainable growth through lean systems design (LSD). The paper presents a techno‐economic and technology change management framework, with an application of a holistic set of lean deployment tools that include establishing a strategic and operational plan for implementing CAD/CAM systems as a means to achieving world‐class performance.

The paper shows that the CAD/CAM integration within the case company increased knowledge of CAD/CAM technology, productivity, and flexibility whilst reducing throughput times. Based on the literature review and the current case study, a framework for ideal CAD/CAM implementation has been proposed. The paper also shows that management and organisational structures are key inhibitors for successful implementation of technology integration.

The paper uses a single case study to validate deployment of the integrated manufacturing strategy in SMMEs. Hence there is a limitation to its generality.

The paper provides an opportunity to further understand CAD/CAM system implementation protocols within a well structured framework and its configuration within SMMEs.

The CAD/CAM implementation framework will allow the SMMEs to achieve Lean manufacturing (thereby minimising wastes) leading to improved growth and employment rates.

The presentation of conceptualisation, development and implementation of an integrated CAD/CAM system in support of organisational wide Lean manufacturing initiative in SMMEs is an originality of this paper.

The successful development of innovative new CAD/CAM systems is critical to the future viability of many companies. CAD/CAM systems represent one of the fastest growing, highest potential, and riskiest new manufacturing technologies. Successful development and adoption requires much richer and more complex relationships between developing and adopting organisations and between managers in different functional areas and operations management. A framework is developed to identify and outline the implications of changing developer/adopter relationships for operations management, based on three interactive sub‐processes — the development, adoption and interfacing sub‐processes. Eight recommendations are made for operations managers to improve their involvement in developer/adopter relationships and so improve the success of CAD/CAM systems adoption.

Follows a presentation at a symposium in 1993 where the authors presented an experimental investigation on a fluttering membrane for use in a wind‐tunnel. Analyses the fluttering of an object by a theoretical method. Compares the experimental results with those of the theoretical and discusses their effectiveness. States that the present analysis is effective for approximate investigations.

The paper seeks to examine the determinants of the diffusion and infusion of computer aided design/computer aided manufacturing in the US textile and apparel industries.

A variety of sources was used to develop the survey, which was mailed to a national random sample of 500 textile and apparel manufacturers. Factor analysis was used to identify the dimensions of reasons for CAD/CAM infusion and diffusion. Three hypotheses were tested with multiple regression analyses procedures.

The responses of 103 manufacturers from all over the USA were analyzed. Diffusion and infusion of CAD/CAM was found to be driven primarily by the market. In addition, business‐unit size affected recent CAD/CAM diffusion to the systems.

Although a sample size of over 100 manufacturers is respectable, broad generalizations cannot be made. So, as with most empirical research studies, the sample size is a limitation.

Modernization of manufacturing is essential. However, prudent investment for the manufacturer is equally important. The key for the manufacturer is maintaining a balance.

The value of this research is the finding that very few manufacturing companies in the USA have adopted CAD/CAM even though it has been shown that the use of technologies is extremely beneficial to their survival.

Describes the development of an integrated computerized engineering database and CAD/CAM system at Presto Tools Ltd, Sheffield, UK. Following an examination of the existing computer hardware and software systems the factors inhibiting the development of an integrated environment were identified. Using a suite of computer programs and application packages including Smartware II, Anvil‐5000 (CAD) and Pathtrace (CAM), an integrated system was developed with the objective of creating a more responsive and interactive manufacturing environment. Describes the original facilities, and the development of the new system.

Generative Production Systems are generative design computation that is linked to optimal physical production. They can improve the design and production of products which have unique geometries. The purpose of this paper is to introduce a preliminary methodology for Generative Production Systems.

The paper takes the form of a literature review investigating the structures and formats of successful methodologies. The literature review also investigates Generative Production Systems' theoretical foundations, development and implementations.

The potential of Generative Production Systems is restricted because enabling information is fragmented and difficult to access. In other fields, such barriers have been overcome through the introduction of methodologies that provide guiding principles, rules and strategies (P‐R‐S). The P‐R‐S type of methodology structure is suitable for Generative Production Systems.

The use of Generative Production Systems requires more upfront investment than the use of CAD/CAM software packages. However, they require little, or no, human input after they are set‐up. The preliminary methodology provides structured guidance about how to set up a Generative Production System. Further, the explanatory text enables wider understanding of Generative Production Systems, and how they can improve design and production.

An analysis is provided for the structure and format of successful methodologies in general. A preliminary methodology for Generative Production Systems is introduced. Further, the paper provides an overview of the disadvantages and advantages of Generative Production Systems compared to typical CAD/CAM software packages.

The present study aims to draw on operations management and information technology literature to examine the effect of three information technology resources (electronic data interchange (EDI), computer‐aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM), and enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems) and three related quality management capabilities (customer and supplier relations, product and process management, and quality data and workforce management) and their effect on a firm's quality performance.

Hypotheses derived from the key features of quality management and information technology presented by previous authors are tested using structural equation modeling through field research on a sample of 229 manufacturing companies in Spain.

Findings from this study indicate that there is significant evidence to support the hypothesized model in which information technology resources (EDI, ERP systems, and CAD/CAM systems) have a direct impact on related quality management capabilities (customer and supplier relations, product and process management, and quality data and workforce management) as well as an indirect impact on quality performance mediated through quality management capabilities.

The discrepant findings in the literature suggest the need to identify contingencies that may govern the IT‐performance relationship. This study focuses on the interplay between information technology, quality management, and quality performance.

This paper aims to improve the efficiency and the quality of metal dental prostheses, reporting on the first patient‐fitted titanium (Ti) complete denture base plate fabricated by integrating the technologies of computer‐aided design and computer‐aided manufacture (CAD/CAM) and laser rapid forming (LRF).

To make a complete Ti denture base plate, the traditional lost‐wax‐casting technique is commonly used in dentistry. In order to simplify this labor‐intensive process, a new method combined with LRF was invented. Initially, a maxillary edentulous plaster cast was converted to point cloud data by laser scanning system. Subsequently, point cloud data were reconstructed into a 3D solid digital cast, which is stored in standard triangulation language format. Thereafter the 3D denture base was sliced electronically into a sequence of layers defining the regions of the component and, based on it, the complete Ti denture base plate was built layer‐by‐layer using a laser additive manufacturing technology.

After CAD/CAM/LRF process, the Ti denture base plate was designed and successfully fabricated layer‐by‐layer. After the traditional dental finishing techniques, the complete Ti denture base plate was made and assessed by clinician and patient. The clinical evaluation on quality of fit was judged to be acceptable.

The CAD/CAM/LRF system is a potential candidate to replace the traditional lost‐wax‐casting technique and provides a new platform for the design and manufacturing of custom‐made Ti denture plates and other restorations especially for implant substructure and framework of partial removal of denture.

The purpose of this paper is to explore an application of computer‐aided design and manufacture (CAD/CAM) to a process of electronically surveying a scanned dental cast as a prior stage to producing a sacrificial pattern for a removable partial denture (RPD) metal alloy framework.

With the introduction of laser scan technology and commercial reverse engineering software, a standard plaster maxillary dental cast with dentition defect was successfully scanned and created as a STL‐formatted digital cast. With the software, the unwanted undercuts were eliminated based on the desired path of insertion. Parts of the RPD framework were then successfully custom‐designed and combined as a whole.

A sacrificial pattern was produced by rapid prototyping (RP) method and finally casted with chromium cobalt alloy. With suitable finishing process, both the sacrificial pattern and the casted framework fitted the cast well.

The research indicated the feasibility of creating a library of RPD framework components. It is believed that, in the future, with the advance of the techniques, a totally new platform can be developed for the design and fabrication of custom‐fit RPD framework based on the CAD/CAM/RP system.