Advancements in simulation tools have made it easier than ever before for small and mid-sized organisations to access the technology. This is a positive development because as the products we design become more complicated, it is more difficult to evaluate how different design options will behave in real-world situations, without undermining your budgets and deadlines.
Additionally, research by Aberdeen Group reveals that best-in-class manufacturers are able to gain competitive advantage through simulation. The technology provides engineers with the insight they need to make fast and correct decisions, which optimise product development without the expense of costly physical prototypes.
Why are simulation tools advantageous to engineers?
Using simulation enables engineers to access insight into how designs will perform in the real world. They make it possible to explore multiple different design options, by providing real-time comparisons of how these design options work and how the end product would perform. The Aberdeen research concluded that the best-in-class organisations are:
- 21% more likely to use simulation to inform decisions when trying to determine the optimal system architectures
- 55% more likely to use simulation tool to examine product behaviours at system levels. This approach provides greater clarity about how different components will work together
- 42% more likely to assess different physical forces concurrently
Use simulation early and often in the design process
The Aberdeen research also concluded that the best-in-class organisations are using simulation early and often in their product design process. For example, 90% of best-in-class companies use simulation as part of their detailed component-level design, compared to 58% of all other organisations. As well, 80% of best-in-class companies use simulation to inform subsystem design whereas this is only the case for 54% of all other companies.
5 step best practice checklist for simulation technology
Successful organisations are able to use simulation to help meet their budgets and beat deadlines. They do this by:
- Establishing support from key stakeholders and ensuring that everyone from management to engineering is bought into the use of simulation as part of the design and validation process
- Understanding and communicating the value of simulation to the organisations, including fewer prototypes, faster time-to-market and less rework
- Ensuring training is in place, to support the use and roll-out
- Testing new approaches with pilot projects
- Using simulation early and often in the design process, starting in the concept phase
Want to find out more about how simulation can help your organisation? View the Creo Simulate datasheet here:
