Which of the following is a benefit of using CAD in mechanical design?

Using CAD (Computer-Aided Design) in mechanical design significantly enhances both efficiency and precision. When employing CAD software, designers can quickly create, modify, and optimize their designs, which streamlines the entire design process. The ability to easily make adjustments and iterate on designs without the need for manual redrawing saves time and reduces the likelihood of errors.

Moreover, CAD applications often include tools for simulations and analyses that help engineers to better predict how a design will behave under real-world conditions, thereby improving the overall quality of the final product. The precise specifications that CAD allows help in ensuring that parts fit together correctly, which is crucial in mechanical assemblies.

In contrast, generating 2D drawings exclusively does not leverage the full capabilities of CAD, which can also handle 3D models. Limiting design options and requiring more manual drafting are contrary to the advantages of CAD, as one of its primary assertions is to expand possibilities and reduce the need for manual processes. Therefore, the choice highlighting improvements in efficiency and precision accurately represents the benefits CAD offers to mechanical design work.