A Survey of Engineering Framework Technology with Applications to Computer Aided Engineering Reference Russell S. Peak, Visiting Researcher {1} Mechanical Engineering Research Laboratory Hitachi Ltd., Tsuchiura, Japan, 6th Intl. Conference, Flexible Automation & Intelligent Manufacturing (FAIM 96), May 13-15, 1996, Atlanta, pp 47-56. Keywords CAE, engineering framework, software infrastructure, interoperability, integration, collaborative engineering, agent, NIIIP, STEP, World Wide Web Abstract This paper surveys engineering framework technology and its potential benefits to collaborative engineering, with a particular focus on computer aided engineering (CAE). A framework is a software infrastructure that enables engineering tools to interoperate (work together). Representative research and development efforts are overviewed, and their contributions to the key technologies are identified. While industry examples to date have been mostly pilot projects, it appears this field is developing rapidly and moving towards mainstream usage in the near future. Hence, this survey recommends becoming more acquainted with framework technology, and it identifies guidelines established by the National Industrial Information Infrastructure Protocols Consortium (NIIIP) as a suggested starting point. An HTML version of this survey is available online that links to associated documents on the World Wide Web. Thus, as a secondary effect, this paper demonstrates how the Web can be used as a research tool. Documents Manuscript: html Notes {1} Author affiliation as of January, 1996: Russell S. Peak, EIS Lab Assistant Director, CALS Technology Center/Atlanta ECRC, peak@cad.gatech.edu.