It's a given in our industry that simulation technology and methods have resulted in faster and more cost-effective delivery of innovative and reliable products than the historical build-and-break process. However, even those companies gaining significant benefits from simulation will admit that they often fail to retain their processes or manage simulation results efficiently enough so that others in their organization can reuse the knowledge gained in an effective way.
A 2007 survey from industry research firm CPDA reported that only 6.1% of companies are using any form of a simulation data management solution, which is typically designed to handle large, complex, and highly-specialized simulation data files. Thirty-five percent use legacy databases or data management applications, and the largest percentage of respondents, 42.7%, keep their simulation data on local or departmental drives. This makes it difficult-if not impossible-for other decision-making stakeholders to access the information or even be aware of its existence, leading to the possibility of repeating the same simulation or overlooking an important performance metric. These issues have created a growing industry consensus that the data, processes, and tools associated with simulation must be brought under control and managed.
Simulation Lifecycle Management (SLM) technology, has emerged as a solution to address these industry challenges. SLM provides robust technology and methods that enable users to bring order to their simulation processes by managing the intellectual property associated with simulation tools, data, and processes, and achieve a new level of efficiency in shortening development cycles, reducing waste, and improving product quality while fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation.
SLM can intrinsically be an integral component of Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), one that is focused on improving simulation effectiveness within PLM and scientific environments.
PLM -- The Foundation for SLM
Product Lifecycle Management is a business strategy that helps companies share product data, apply common processes, and leverage corporate knowledge for the development of products from conception to retirement, across the extended enterprise. By including all participants (company departments, business partners, suppliers, OEMs, and customers), PLM enables this entire network to operate as a single entity to conceptualize, design, build, and support products.
PLM systems have evolved rapidly in recent years and now provide collaborative Virtual Product Lifecycle Management of complex product, process, and resource information-from marketing and design to manufacturing and maintenance.
IT departments have previously struggled to provide the data management tools necessary to make simulation more effective for their business as a whole. SLM, as a crucial component of PLM, unites a deep understanding of the demands of simulation, its role in the enterprise, and the knowledge to determine which data and processes belong under formal management and which data and processes should remain ad hoc.
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