Final answer:
Computer-aided design (CAD) software, essential in the engineering design process, is used by technical professionals to create detailed product designs and manage the development budget, ensuring precision and reducing design flaws.
Step-by-step explanation:
A computer-aided design (CAD) software, originally developed by electrical engineers, is now used by nearly every technical professional to define objects and how they flow during a design phase. CAD tools have revolutionized the engineering design process, allowing for precise drawings used to design a product. These software tools have become integral in the development and budgeting of product designs, offering visualization and modification of objects before they are physically created. Engineers from various disciplines including electrical, mechanical, and civil engineering rely on CAD software to simulate and improve product designs, which encompasses aspects such as the rate of flow of water through a hose in plumbing designs or the arrangement of circuit boards in electronics.
Furthermore, CAD software supports engineers in managing complex designs like those with over a billion transistors, ensuring that these intricate systems function as intended. By using CAD, engineers can ensure the integrity and functionality of their designs, safeguarding the budget for product development by reducing the need for multiple physical prototypes and the risk of design flaws.