尽管数控和数控机床在各种规模的制造企业中已经司空见惯，但技术并没有影响产品的设计、开发、原型和生产方式。一个障碍是传统的数控编程方法。编程系统与计算机技术同步，但与制造技术不同步。CNC编程程序的另一种替代方法称为制造过程建模。它将现代图形环境的交互性与专为制造业设计的数据库结合起来。数以千计的各种规模的公司已经在使用这项新技术来提高质量、上市时间和竞争力。

ALTHOUGH NC AND CNC MACHINES HAVE BECOME COMMONPLACE IN MANUFACTURING COMPANIES OF ALL SIZES, TECHNOLOGY HAS NOT INFLUENCED THE WAY PRODUCTS ARE DESIGNED, DEVELOPED, PROTOTYPED, AND PRODUCED. ONE OBSTACLE HAS BEEN TRADITIONAL METHODS OF NC PROGRAMMING. PROGRAMMING SYSTEMS HAVE KEPT PACE WITH COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY, BUT NOT WITH MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY. AN ALTERNATIVE TO CNC PROGRAMMING PROCEDURES IS CALLED MANUFACTURING PROCESS MODELING. IT COMBINES THE INTERACTIVITY OF A MODERN GRAPHICS ENVIRONMENT WITH A DATABASE DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR MANUFACTURING. THOUSANDS OF COMPANIES OF EVERY SIZE ARE ALREADY USING THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY TO IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY, TIME TO MARKET, AND COMPETITIVENESS.