TO MANAGE an engineering project well, you need the right tools. These tools include text processing, a CAD tool for system documentation, and spreadsheets or a small database to handle bills of material, wiring lists, and purchase order lists. The amount of data produced can create many files of differing types. Meanwhile, you need to ensure that all links and references remain accurate. If more than one person is working on a project the process becomes even more complicated. Keeping track of all this information can be cumbersome, to say the least. The newer generation of computer-based engineering tools makes life easier. All information is accessible through alphanumerical dialogs without the need to create or change diagrams. All steps starting with preliminary examinations, structuring of the facility, detailed electrical engineering including maintenance, modification and, finally, the deconstruction of the plant can be managed with an always-consistent virtual model. This approach is closer to the real work flow of electrical engineering: the primary engineering creates the project and defines the structure of a plant or machine and the main equipment. The device engineering follows to specify the main devices in detail, and to prepare the next engineering steps, as well as enabling early purchasing of devices. During detail engineering, electrical designers or experienced draftsmen create circuit diagrams, and decide details such as dimensioning of fuses, circuit breakers usage of terminals, wires, etc. Machine builders, system integrators, or engineering consultants might manage all these steps on their own. In larger companies this process could be spread over several departments or locations. To aid these efforts, Aucotec AG launched its Engineering Base (EB) electrical design software in Europe last year, and reports its scaleable product covers the entire project scope. Engineering Base now is available in the U.S. with an ANSI/JIC/IEC-compliant symbols library and sample projects. The built-in capability for automatic item labeling and wire numbering now accommodates U.S. needs, following rules related to the typical rung numbers.
