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.