Maximize Your ROI: The Value of Simulation Process and Data Management

The world’s leading engineering teams are firm believers in the value delivered by engineering simulation, but many are still discovering the power of optimally managing simulation-related processes and data.

A recent McKinsey study found that 99% of engineering teams worldwide rely on simulation. However, the study also found that the reasons engineers use simulation are shifting. Increasingly, they are looking to simulation not only to drive product innovation, but also to launch products faster, lower costs, and reduce the engineering resources associated with their development.

Today, 87% of engineers cite better product performance as a top priority for applying simulation. But, looking ahead, the top simulation value driver is faster time to market (named by 73% of respondents). Reducing product costs and improving product performance were each named as priorities by 72% of engineers, and 71% cited the value created by simulation in lowering engineering costs.

The powerful features and functionality provided by simulation software have led to incredible product innovations. Though many product development teams are just now realizing the benefits of simulation process and data management (SPDM), it only makes sense to apply simulation in an environment that’s been explicitly optimized for it.

Ansys Minerva Software: A Proven Value Driver

For engineering teams looking to increase the speed and cost benefits of simulation-driven product development, Ansys Minerva SPDM software provides the answer. Based on decades of hands-on experience and hundreds of customer successes, Minerva software is an enterprise-level platform that’s purpose-built to add value. It’s been proven to increase customers’ time and cost results, leading to a greater return on investment (ROI).

Minerva software acts as a central repository for all simulation data, creating real-time visibility into project results, milestones, and status across all functions and stakeholders.

Minerva software also automates and tracks project handoffs, optimizes workflows, and enforces best practices, accountability, and process discipline. The streamlined development cycle moves faster, but Minerva software ensures all tasks are completed and that analytic rigor is never compromised.

By providing the entire team with access to the same data in real time, Minerva software creates a single view of all projects and milestones. Informed by a shared perspective and an agreed-upon version of the truth, engineers can confidently move their projects one step closer to market launch every day.

To truly understand the value created by Minerva software and SPDM, imagine the current work conditions of many product development teams today. They’re using an array of engineering technologies and multiple, scattered datasets — none of which are tightly linked, and many of which may not be secure. Engineers hand off projects via email. They have little visibility into key projects and their milestones, until an urgent task lands on their laptop. Costs, delays, and inefficiencies mount while market opportunities slowly evaporate.

This highly manual, undisciplined process just isn’t sufficient to manage the numerically large, data-intensive, and complex workflows of modern simulation.

In contrast, Minerva software is an open, software-agnostic platform that brings together common databases, technology systems, and specialized tools, including a host of third-party computer-aided design and engineering (CAD/CAE) and product life cycle management (PLM) solutions. Simulation, modeling, and analysis tools from different vendors — along with their diverse data sources — are tightly coupled and orchestrated with one another in a secure environment that’s built to support fast, accurate, cost-effective product development.

CADFEM Demonstrates the Real-World Value of Minerva Software

Ansys’ expert partner CADFEM recently joined Ansys for the on-demand webinar “Realizing the Value of SPDM,” which featured several customer case studies.

CADFEM has been a close and successful partner of Ansys since 1985, with more than 5,000 customer success stories. As an Ansys Apex Channel Partner, CADFEM Germany GmbH is a pioneer in the application of engineering simulation in product development and supports Ansys users with all aspects of simulation — including SPDM.

“One of CADFEM’s strengths is that we’re experts in helping customers maximize their simulation results, and financial returns, by integrating simulation deeply into the end-to-end development process, creating a digital thread that connects all simulation data and tasks,” says Marc Vidal, architect of digital engineering solutions at CADFEM, who gave some insights into a few successful SPDM projects in the recent webinar.

“When you really want to unlock the full potential of simulation — to reduce time to market, mitigate risk, and drive innovation — you have to optimize data management, processes, and workflows,” Vidal continues. “To unlock this potential, it’s absolutely key to align the implementation of SPDM with the CAE requirements. That is the strength of Ansys Minerva, which is specialized for simulation needs, as well our strength as a certified Ansys Services partner for digital engineering who deeply understands those simulation needs.”

In the webinar, Vidal pointed to three representative examples where CADFEM advised customers and implemented Minerva software. These examples demonstrate the real-world value of SPDM and how quickly companies can benefit from it:

• Dieffenbacher, a German manufacturer of woodworking machines, was challenged by scattered data and manual processes. By implementing SPDM, the company achieved significant time savings and risk reduction. The structured data management of Minerva software streamlined simulation processes, making them more efficient, secure, and audit-proof. After an introduction phase of just a few months, Dieffenbacher realized a return on its investment in SPDM within the first year.
• ENERCON, a wind turbine manufacturer based in Germany, underwent a transformation from a local to an international organization. SPDM played a pivotal role in aligning different departments and ensuring data consistency across the board, facilitating efficient data exchange and process integration. Together with CADFEM, ENERCON was able to introduce Minerva software in just six months.
• Liebherr Aerospace, a global organization with roots in Germany, has a large engineering organization. and its goal is to become a model-based enterprise. For nearly 40 years, the company has been relying on Ansys technology and CADFEM expertise to be supported on that journey. SPDM, enabled by Minerva software, provides the digital continuity needed for efficient stakeholder communication and data exchange, supporting the company’s global strategy of digital transformation.

“For all of these CADFEM customers and many others, Ansys Minerva software is a specialized solution that connects teams, manages data, and streamline processes for increased efficiency and faster product development,” says Vidal.

Start Driving Greater Simulation Returns Today

If you’re among the 99% of engineering teams who have already realized the value of engineering simulation, then why not drive even greater returns by embracing SPDM?

Ansys and CADFEM offer  digital transformation assessments to show how you can leverage SPDM to impact your company’s overall product development process through cycle-time reduction, quality improvement, and accelerated innovation. Contact Ansys or CADFEM to schedule your assessment today.