The engineering information system program

Organizations that use design automation tools are forced to integrate an assorted set of design aids developed either internally or by different vendors. The integration task is complicated by the multiuser, distributed, heterogeneous design environment and the unique, proprietary, internal data representation of each vendor´s design system. The author discusses one solution to this problem, the engineering information system (EIS) program, the purpose of which is to reduce the present difficulties involved with integrating different vendors´ design tools by developing a candidate set of interface standards and demonstrating their usefulness. The program goals and organization are described.<>