Today's manufacturing enterprise, whether it produces

consumer goods or weapons systems, must often juggle a

range of conflicting demands. Smaller lot sizes, increased
product flexibility, higher product quality, decreased delivery
time, and smaller profit margins are typical of the ambitious
goals in many such organizations. Through it all, the
enterprise must consistently aim for the five R's-- produce
the right product, with the right quality, in the right
quantity, at the right price, and at the right time-- and it
must do more than satisfy its customers; it must delight
them. Correct and timely information is key to meeting
these goals, and information technology-- database
management systems, enterprise resource planning
systems, and simulation and computer-aided design tools--
has become indispensable to most manufacturing
enterprises. Although its role in manufacturing has been
more to support processes, IT is evolving to become a
catalyst for process and product change. In this case study,
an apparel manufacturer used a modeling framework
developed by Georgia Tech to implement multiple IT
solutions. It was then able to rapidly shift production
resources between two separate product lines. IT is at the
heart of successful enterprises worldwide, and
manufacturing enterprises are no exception. Terry
Manufacturing, the case study for this article, successfully
implemented its IT strategy, thereby enabling itself to effect
a significant transformation in operations and remain in
business as a viable and reliable model supplier to both the
defense and civilian markets.

The use of the computer has had a positive impact on manufacturing

engineering in many ways. Engineering is a term applied to the
profession in which a knowledge of the mathematical and natural
sciences, gained by study, experience and practice, is applied to the
efficient use of the materials and forces of nature. The term engineer
denotes a person who has received professional training in pure and
applied sciences.
The first and biggest positive impact on engineering has been the use
of Computer Numerical Control machines (CNC); computers were
first introduced to these controls in the early 1970’s. CNC machines
typically replace or work in conjunction with some existing
manufacturing process. For example before CNC machines a person
using a drill press to machine holes would have to do a lot of work for
themselves. They would have to place a drill in the drill chuck is
secured in the spindle of the drill press. They can then select the
desired speed for rotation, and activate the spindle. Then they
manually pull on the qu...