Simulation in the Design Process - Gaining Return On Your PLM Investment

Within PLM, there are a number of simulation-based technologies that organizations refer to as Virtual Product Development, or VPD, technologies. VPD is an engineering environment where all phases of the product design process use an integrated combination of both simulation technology and traditional physical prototyping techniques to generate an organization's most critical data; that which is related to product performance. By using VPD, designs with improved reliability can be developed cost-effectively and in less time than using the traditional design and test process. The value of applying simulation, or VPD, in the early stages of design is important to understand. In a paper titled "The Effect of 'Front-Loading' Problem-Solving on Product Development Performance", Stefan Thomke and Takahiro Fujimoto explain, how in the early 1990s, Toyota reorganized their product development activities to improve face-to-face communication and joint problem solving between the designers and production engineers. By tracking problems over multiple development projects, they found and fixed about 40% of their problems by Stage 3 (1st physical prototypes) and 75% by Stage 5 (2nd prototypes).

So what exactly is Virtual Product Development (VPD) and how does it enhance Product Lifecycle Management (PLM)? Can you really measure the benefits of using design simulation early in the design process? How can you make the case for increasing investment in VPD and CATIA-embedded simulation software in within your PLM initiative? Download the complete article "Simulation in the Design Process - Gaining Return On Your PLM Investment" at http://www.mscsoftware.com/ads?COENews020104 to learn how you can leverage VPD within your PLM initiative to ensure the functional performance, reliability, and support of your product. Plus, be sure to attend the COE Annual Conference & TechniFair in Miami Beach. MSC.Software professionals will be providing multiple technical workshops, leading valuable Breakfast & Learns, and supporting "Top Gun". Discover how you can gain a return on your PLM investment.

ImpactXoft Develops Next-generation Software for Simultaneous Product Development (SPD)

The IX SpeeD Suite is the first and only solution that provides a design environment in which members of global development and manufacturing supply chains can work in parallel to produce quality products. ImpactXoft proves that when a focused community of resources is engaged in a parallel process, common product development challenges can be easily conquered: designs are more easily understood and design changes are more easily applied and communicated. ImpactXoft's solution provides the opportunity to dramatically drive down design cycle times and design costs, while offering companies the agility they need to build innovative, customer-centric products.

Founded in 1999 and headquartered in San Jose, California, ImpactXoft is privately held and venture funded. ImpactXoft has established strategic partnerships with Dassault Systèmes and Toyota Caelum Incorporated.

TECHNOLOGY
The technology that drives ImpactXoft's solution for Simultaneous Product Development is represented by two unique methodologies:

IX Functional Modeling is a distinctive approach to modeling that captures the intelligence necessary to improve the overall understanding of a design. Designers can focus on defining design behaviors and functional rules while the geometric model is generated automatically to meet their requirements.

Key benefits include: understandable behavior-driven designs for a shorter learning curve, order independence for design flexibility and effective change propagation.

IX Instant Participation represents the truest form of co-development. It is a method that provides the flexibility required to accommodate the unique design perspectives of all disciplines involved in a product's development.

Key benefits include: parallel design to shorten design cycle, unique mechanism for communication of design changes using a simple share and merge paradigm, support for real-time or on-demand interaction, and visibility and traceability into project design activities.

PRODUCT
The IX SPeeD

Suite includes:
IX Design

promotes a more efficient, order independent functional design process and automates geometry generation so that users can concentrate on what they want to model, not how to model it.

IX SPeeD

Server - establishes the context for SPD by providing a project environment in which all design resources can be engaged to develop products in parallel.

IX SPeeD

Connector - introduces a breakthrough in collaborative design by providing "sharing and merging" tools for communicating and incorporating design changes delivered using intelligent design data.

Acuity Inc. Partners with ImpactXoft to Sell IX SPeeD V5 Suite

ImpactXoft Grows Worldwide Channel Partner Program

ImpactXoft recently announced that Acuity Incorporated, a leading reseller of best-in-class Product Lifecycle Management and eBusiness solutions has joined ImpactXoft's Need SPeeD reseller channel program. Acuity will focus on aerospace and defense suppliers as well as consumer goods manufacturers in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Southern California and British Columbia regions.

Acuity was founded in Portland in 1986 with a mission to help optimize a company's competitive position by leveraging product design expertise and intellectual properties across the virtual enterprise. Acuity's platform is designed to enable its customers to gain the best advantage and return-on-investment from computer-based tools.

"The IX SPeeD V5 Suite will give our customers the competitive edge, especially those wanting to pursue business with CATIA V5 OEMS," said Tom McKasson, president of Acuity Inc. "The native interoperability that the IX SPeeD V5 Suite provides with CATIA V5 opens a new market space and provides better opportunities for small businesses to work with the Boeings of the world."

We are delighted to welcome Acuity Incorporated into our family of reseller partners," said Martin Welch, executive vice president and chief operating officer. "Acuity has established an excellent reputation over many years in the Pacific Northwest and has the expertise and experience to help ImpactXoft gain an edge in the collaborative functional design space. Together, we can bring our customers the tremendous productivity and innovation improvements that they need to win with outstanding products."

This partnership announcement follows ImpactXoft's recent launch of their Need SPeeD reseller channel program. The program is open to qualified VARs that serve the major mechanical computer-aided design and collaborative solutions markets, including consumer goods and electronics manufacturers as well as automotive and aerospace suppliers.

Those interested in more information or that wish to join the Need SPeeD program should contact ImpactXoft's channel sales organization at 408.360.7700 or visit the company web site at http://www.impactxoft.com/NeedSPeeD.