Los Alamos National Laboratory`s Center for Advanced Engineering Technology has developed a product realization process designed to enhance the complexity and comprehensiveness of the information fed back to the designer after the analytical and manufacturing operations have been completed. This process uses principles of As-Built Engineering and Model Reconstruction in a Models Based Engineering environment, allowing optimization in the manufacturing and assembly operations and providing information as to the As-Built configuration to engineering and physics designers for evaluation. As-Built Engineers is a product realization methodology founded on the notion that life-cycle engineering should be based on what is actually produced and not on what is nominally designed. It enables customization in mass production environments and questions nominal based methods of engineering. Model Reconstruction provides the capability of subjecting a design to adverse conditions within the computer aided environment and building a stereolithography model and simulated radiograph from the analytical finite element information of the simulated damaged part. Models Based Engineering is an information management tool and a key driver toward the development of adaptive product realization infrastructures. It encompasses the breadth of engineering information, from concept through design to product application
