Blog Is Innovation a part of your Design Cycle?
What makes Apple keep coming out with coolest looking gadgets that meet both function and style of current genre? Why hasn’t Microsoft seen a slump in its growth rate since its conception? I think we all know Innovation is driving all of them. Is that the case in your organization?
Software vendors keep pushing the idea of making analysis a routine part of design – especially up front in the cycle. The benefits claimed: companies can spot and fix problems early, cut down on testing numerous prototypes, optimize product performance and create innovative designs that often would not be feasible without use of simulation to explore alternative concepts.
Many of these simulation programs are not interoperable with different CAD packages and PDM systems. This builds on user frustration by adding to data conversion time between systems; often involving a lot of rework and in some cases building geometry from scratch. Another difficulty faced by companies is programs are aimed at people with certain skill sets, requiring a few degrees and level of expertise to handle basic design processes. Simulation Packages are closely tied with Operating Systems and need dedicated hardware adding to costs, hence difficult to justify by smaller groups.
To obtain the most objective understanding of potential productivity gains, manufacturers should calculate their expected Return on Investment (ROI) and consider as many quantifiable benefits as possible.
So what does it take to own a package that fires innovation? A few that come to my mind are
- Cost of software
- Training
- Maintenance
- Hardware
Can we justify this by
- Improving product quality
- Avoiding field failures
- Reducing physical prototypes
- Decreasing material costs
- Lowering training, retaining esteemed team members
- Communicating better with partners
In a Utopian world, there is no doubt the software pays for itself. These goals should also be quantified against who you choose your partner in providing these technologies to you. Features and Performance offered by a simulation tool can be maximized by understanding vendor track record. Does the vendor understand your business and are they flexible enough to follow market trends?
Computer Aided Technology has seen organizations that implement analysis software benefit by
- 30% faster time to market
- 20% reduction in field failures
- 15% reduction in product recalls
- 32% reduction in prototypes
- 23% reduction in physical tests
If you are interested in finding out how to implement innovation, ask Computer Aided Technology about numerous case studies and practical examples they have come across over last 16 years.
Rajat Trehan