What is the purpose of Rapid Prototyping?

The purpose of Rapid Prototyping is primarily centered around the ability to create physical models quickly using Computer-Aided Design (CAD) tools. This process allows designers and engineers to transform digital models into tangible items at a fast pace, enabling them to test, evaluate, and iterate designs efficiently. By producing prototypes swiftly, teams can gather feedback and make necessary adjustments in a time-effective manner, ultimately leading to improved product development cycles. This is particularly valuable in industries where speed to market is crucial and where understanding user interactions with a product can inform design improvements before final production.

The other potential purposes mentioned do not align with the primary function of Rapid Prototyping. While producing marketing materials can be important for a product's release, it is not the focus of Rapid Prototyping. Automating the design review process is a different aspect of product development and does not specifically relate to the rapid creation of prototypes. Lastly, improving employee productivity, although a beneficial outcome of effective processes, is not the core aim of Rapid Prototyping itself. The technique is fundamentally about creating and testing models quickly to streamline the design and development process.