The role of computer networks in aerospace engineering - Libraries and the Internet: Education, Practice & Policy

Library Trends, Spring, 1994 by Ann Peterson Bishop

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Rachowitz et al. (1991) describe efforts at Grumman Aerospace Corporation to realize a fully distributed computing environment. Grumman's goal is to implement a system of networked workstations in order to "cost-effectively optimize the computing tools available to the engineers, while promoting the systematic implementation of concurrent engineering among project teams" (p. 38). The network includes personal computers and software to be used for communication. Grumman assumes that their computer/information integrated environment (CIE) will result in "product optimization-quality products manufactured with fewer errors in shorter time and at a lower cost" (p. 66).

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Black (1990) presents a brief overview of the uses and advantages of computer conferencing systems, noting that computer conferencing "can be a very powerful tool for the transfer of information in all areas of research and development" and "a |natural' for use by the AGARD [Advisory Group for Aerospace Research and Development] community..." (pp. 13-14). Molholm (1990) describes the application of the Department of Defense's Computer-Aided Acquisition and Logistics Support (CALS) initiative to the aerospace community. CALS mandates the use of specific standards for the electronic creation and transmission of technical information associated with weapons systems development. Eventually all Department of Defense contractors and subcontractors will be required to create and distribute in digital form all the drawings, specifications, technical data, documents, and support information required over the entire life cycle of a military project. The CALS system may be a significant impetus to networking for aerospace firms.

Few empirical studies of computer networking in the aerospace industry have been conducted, although a number of the surveys conducted as part of the NASA/DoD Aerospace Knowledge Diffusion Project have included small components assessing the use of computing and communications technologies by aerospace students, faculty, researchers, and engineers. Beuschel and Kling (1993) conducted a case study of computer-integrated manufacturing (CIM) in an aerospace firm and found that effective technological integration was limited by complex social requirements for group coordination processes, such as negotiation and interpretation.

These reports reveal that a number of engineering organizations, including those in aerospace, are using electronic networks for a variety of communication activities, distributed computing, and shared access to information resources. Networks are being implemented to serve organizational goals and business strategies--i.e., to achieve impacts in terms of better and faster product development and cost savings. The motivations for network investments noted in these reports suggest factors that may encourage network use in particular engineering organizations and obviate the need for them in others. These reports also point to a number of factors that may hinder network use, such as security and proprietary concerns, the inability of networks to accommodate the negotiation and interpretation aspects of communication, and the substantial financial outlays required to implement networked systems.

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The role of computer networks in aerospace engineering - Libraries and the Internet: Education, Practice & Policy

Library Trends, Spring, 1994 by Ann Peterson Bishop

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