is the use of computer technology to aid in the creation, modification, analysis or optimization of a design. CAD software replaces manual drafting with an automated process. It can be used to design models physically or virtually and can be used to create production ready drawings for manufacture.

CAD has been widely adopted in many different industries including aerospace, automotive, medical device manufacturing and architecture. Benefits of using CAD include increased accuracy and precision in designs, as well as reduced time spend on tedious manual tasks such as drawing lines and shapes by hand. Additionally, CAD systems allow users to simulate production processes before decisions are made on how items will be produced, allowing for more efficient product development cycles with less waste of resources.