The ASSESS Initiative

As of June 21st 2022, ASSESS is part of NAFEMS. ASSESS activities started in 2014, bringing together key players to guide and influence the software development and implementation strategies related to model-based analysis, simulation, and systems engineering, with the primary objective of expanding the use and business benefit of Engineering Simulation.

Our new vision: “To lead every aspect of engineering simulation toward a more valuable and accessible future in the medium to long-term, leveraging the expertise and knowledge of top-level figures in industry, government, and academia.”

FAQs

What is ASSESS?

Established in 2014, ASSESS is a broad reaching multi-industry initiative, with the primary goal of facilitating a revolution of enablement that will vastly increase the availability and utility of Engineering Simulation, leading to significantly increased business benefits across the full spectrum of industries, applications, and users. The vision of the ASSESS Initiative is to bring together key players from companies that use Engineering Simulation, software companies, academia and government to guide and influence software tool strategies for performing model-based analysis, simulation, and systems engineering.

In broad terms, ASSESS aims to bring some “thought leadership” to the engineering simulation industry by bringing together key players to discuss the long-term direction of travel.

Why are NAFEMS and ASSESS coming together?

The activities of NAFEMS and ASSESS have always been very complementary. Whilst aiming to encompass all areas of engineering simulation, NAFEMS has tended to prioritise the “today and tomorrow” of engineering analysis and simulation, how we make the most of it, and what the future holds. ASSESS focuses more on where the technology and industry will be in the medium to long term future (in 5 years’ time, for example). Bringing the two organisations together will see the ASSESS activities benefit from the infrastructure, experience, knowledge, reputation, and network that NAFEMS has built over the past nearly 40 years, and NAFEMS will benefit from further extending its longer-term view of the technology.

What are the future goals and expectations for ASSESS operating within NAFEMS?

ASSESS will remain a self-contained initiative, under the overall NAFEMS umbrella, as a thought leadership group with a select membership of leading individuals. ASSESS will not be run as a NAFEMS Technical Working Group, and will have the autonomy to chart its own course, make independent recommendations, and decide on which initiatives to pursue. Similarly, whilst the output of ASSESS will undoubtedly be of great value to the future direction of NAFEMS, NAFEMS will be under no obligation to run with ASSESS recommendations.

The expectation is that ASSESS activities will continue, only bigger, better, and bolder because of the support and assistance of NAFEMS.

What activities will ASSESS be undertaking in future?

ASSESS will continue to hold its annual congress, run webinars, produce thought leadership documents, and organise workshops, amongst other activities.

What do NAFEMS members stand to gain from this?

As part of their membership, NAFEMS members will soon have access to materials and deliverables developed by ASSESS. As a whole, we anticipate that NAFEMS members will benefit hugely from a strong, independent, thought-leadership thread within the organisation, as well as from all the work undertaken by ASSESS.

What do ASSESS members stand to gain from this?

Having a much more “hands-on” membership model, members of ASSESS have always actively been part of delivering the organisation’s output. With the support of the NAFEMS team, both in terms of personnel and infrastructure, the ASSESS team will be able to do more, and allow their activities to move up a level. ASSESS will now gain access to an established dissemination channel, be seen as being part of a reputable, international organisation, and be able to call on the NAFEMS membership to take part in their activities.

Who will be leading ASSESS?

Joe Walsh will continue to head-up the initiative as part of NAFEMS. You can reach him at joe.walsh@nafems.org

Will existing ASSESS memberships continue to be honoured?

Yes, anyone who is a member of ASSESS will still be able to get their full membership benefits for the full term of their membership.

I’ve got more questions – who do I ask?

Several members of the NAFEMS and ASSESS teams are involved, and will be happy to answer any questions you may have. In the first instance, email assess@nafems.org