Computer-aided engineering is an all-embracing term to cover the drawing together of all aspects of the design and manufacture of a product. CAE systems can now be purchased which can greatly assist the engineer in his efforts to produce a better, more competitive product in a shorter time. The introduction of CAE causes changes in the structure of a company. Human communication becomes vitally important. The CAE engineer requires a broad appreciation of a wide range of disciplines. Advanced CAE will mean the introduction of expert systems technology and the knowledge engineers to advise on its successful implementation. The fundamental point to grasp is that CAE is simply one more step in an age-old process in which we seek to better understand and model the physical world: ‘man is basically a model builder’.