Industrial end users and solution providers gather to discuss leading edge capabilities and requirements for simulation & analysis and systems engineering
ANN ARBOR, Michigan, 3 May 2013—CIMdata, Inc., the leading global PLM strategic management consulting and research firm announces the successful completion of its 2013 Simulation & Analysis and Systems Engineering workshops. These workshops were held in Cincinnati, Ohio on 30 April and 1 May 2013. The Simulation & Analysis workshop was attended by 43 people representing 24 industrial end user companies and leading global simulation software solution providers. The Systems Engineering workshop had 46 people from 22 industrial and solution supplier companies.
CIMdata’s Knowledge Council workshops are unique forums that bring together industrial end users and technology and service providers to focus specifically on topics relevant to each knowledge council and how those impact product and manufacturing systems development.
Simulation & Analysis Workshop
In his opening remarks Dr. Keith Meintjes, CIMdata’s Practice Manager for Simulation and Analysis stated that there is an oncoming revolution for simulation. “Systems engineering, robust design, and integrated geometry capability will transform the way we engineer products. CAD will be the starting point of a smooth process to physically realize the product, not the beginning of an iterative cycle of design-build-test-fail-redesign.”
End user presentations focused on the integration and automation of simulation in a design environment (Patrick Grimberg, DPS), statistical methods for robust design (Dr. Alexander Karl, Rolls-Royce and Mary Fortier, General Motors), topology optimization for discovering efficient structures for suspension design (Robert Geisler, General Motors), and the use of simulation to drive innovation for consumer products and their manufacturing processes (Art Koehler, Procter and Gamble). These experts all focused on the up-front use of simulation to define products before a commitment to producing detailed CAD for manufacturing.
Leading solution providers (ANSYS, Autodesk, Dassault Systèmes SIMULIA, ESI Group, Mentor Graphics, and Siemens PLM Solutions) participated in a lively panel discussion on the democratization of simulation—making simulation available to a much wider group of users in a way that supports their work practices.
Dr. Meintjes discussed some of CIMdata’s research on the PLM market. The simulation and analysis market is now approximately US$4 billion annually, over 12% of the total PLM market. Simulation & analysis is (along with EDA) the fastest growing segment of PLM. CIMdata’s coverage of the simulation and analysis market will be broadened with a new report in its MAR series beginning in 2013.
An important trend that was reinforced during the workshop is that simulation & analysis are increasingly important to corporate management to support up-front design and reduce physical testing.
Systems Engineering Workshop
In this first-ever event, many topics of relevance were presented and discussed. John MacKrell, CIMdata’s Systems Engineering Knowledge Council lead, introduced systems engineering as well as the structure and role of the knowledge council. A practitioner’s perspective on using systems engineering to develop space systems was provided (Tom Hartline, NASA Glenn Research Center), research into systems engineering topics and concepts of how to apply these to many types of product programs were described (Dr. Carlee Bishop, Georgia Institute of Technology Research Institute), benefits realized from applying systems engineering in the automotive industry were discussed (Craig Brown, General Motors), and the role of simulation in supporting systems engineering was presented (Dr. Keith Meintjes, CIMdata).
In addition to these presentations, lively discussion among the attendees ensued from comments provided by a panel of systems engineering solution providers (Dassault Systèmes, IBM Rational, Mentor Graphics, PTC, and Siemens PLM Solutions).
In his closing remarks, John MacKrell pointed out some of the main highlights from the day’s discussions: “A glossary and taxonomy of systems engineering terms needs to be developed. There is a clear need for organized systems engineering training. Capturing requirements in natural language is not a workable solution since we all work globally and in many different, often confusing natural languages. We need to work from a cultural perspective that embraces a systems mindset. The INCOSE roadmap for MBSE is interesting, but people need systems engineering strategies and solutions now or soon, not in 10 years.”
Related upcoming events include CIMdata’s 2013 PLM Road Map conference, to be held in conjunction with PI Congress, which will take place on 9 and 10 October at the Hilton Chicago Indian Lakes Resort. This will include full day tracks on Simulation & Analysis and on Systems Engineering. CIMdata’s presentation at NAFEMS Simulation Data Management Symposium in Troy, MI on November 14 will focus on data management for system simulation models. CIMdata also plans to participate in the Systems Engineering Track at the NDIA GVSETS Conference in Dearborn, MI on August 20-21.
