System and method for generating component models

An electrical component model generator generates, stores, and retrieves component models in a component model library. Component models comprise property values. A property value quantifies a property. Properties are associated with a plurality of component models. The component model generator generates rules. A rule is a relationship between two or more properties. A rule applied to two or more properties associated with the component model define a property value for at least one of these properties. Properties that are not defined by rules or that have a value different from the value generated by a rule are quantified by an exception value that is input by a user. The component model generator stores the component models by storing the rules for all component models and the exception values for each component model. Generating and maintaining the component model library is facilitated by automatically applying the rules to the component model to generate some or most of the property values. A user does not need to manually input these values. As a result, user input time and data entry errors are reduced.