Mechanical engineers spend a staggering 12 hours a week searching for models and even longer redesigning existing ones. This is not just a minor inconvenience—it significantly hampers productivity and innovation. As one engineer put it, "I spend a lot of time implementing shapes and structures instead of actually engineering" [1].

The process of designing, editing, and collaborating is equally tedious. Engineers check in and out CAD files from the PLM system, making modifications, and saving updates. Managers then review and approve these designs, often resulting in a back-and-forth exchange of emails, phone calls, and screen-sharing sessions. This not only consumes time but also increases the risk of errors and miscommunication.

"Engineers often find themselves buried in versions of documents, struggling with complicated naming conventions, and dealing with notification fatigue." [2]

Moreover, the existing PLM and CAD tools have their own sets of problems:

• PLM Issues: Low NPS, multiple versions of documents, lack of automatic updates, limited to one editor at a time, and high noise-to-signal ratio in notifications [2].

• CAD Tool Issues: Trade-offs between usability and performance, reliance on multiple tools for different tasks, minimal integration, and repetitive work [3].

The current system for design for manufacturing and vendor review is equally cumbersome. Engineers and managers must coordinate with external stakeholders through emails, phone calls, and text feedback, leading to further delays and inefficiencies. This fragmented process is documented in systems like SolidWorks PDM but lacks cohesion and fluidity.