Engineers have been getting to grips with the digitalisation of information for some years but while the electronic-revolution has promised much but has it delivered? i '. compares some of the promises and hopes with what has actually taken place and how engineers are coping with a continually changing set of rules. S ince the late 1970s and early 1980s business has been trying to become paper-free or to reduce considerably the amount of paper used to conduct business. Engineering was seen as a good target for improvement. Engineering involves lots of drawings, parts lists, manufacturing procedures, inspection procedures, specifications and customer documentation. Saving money (increased profitability) by reducing production time and delays was seen as a sensible concept. Early computer (circa 1980). Non-volatile memory, no hard disc Accountants were one of the first operating system and groups to realise the power and usefulsoftware written by computer designer/ ness of computers. Computers could manufacturer, no track the cost and delivery of indivicommunications with dual parts and the total cost/build time