WITH THE ADVENT OF NEW PROCESS AND DESIGN OPTIONS, PART DESIGNERS, MOLDERS AND ENGINEERS ARE FACED WITH NEW CHALLENGES TO GET THEIR PRODUCT TO MARKET IN A TIMELY MANNER. ALTHOUGH THERMOPLASTIC INJECTION MOLDING IS THE DOMINANT PROCESS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF NEW PLASTIC PRODUCTS, ALTERNATIVE PROCESSES AND MATERIALS HAVE CREATED NEW DEMANDS FOR SIMULATION TECHNOLOGY THAT CAN HELP SOLVE POTENTIAL PROBLEMS PRIOR TO MAKING SUBSTANTIAL COMMITMENTS OF TIME AND MONEY. PROCESSES SUCH AS GAS-ASSISTED INJECTION MOLDING, CO-INJECTION, AND REACTIVE MOLDING (THERMOSET, RTM, RUBBER) PRESENT VIABLE ALTERNATIVES. A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO ADDRESSING THE ISSUES FOR THESE PROCESSES IS NEEDED TO PROVIDE A FRAMEWORK FOR SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW PRODUCTS.