This presentation was made at the NAFEMS Americas Conference "Simulation in the Automotive Industry: Creating the Next Generation Vehicle" held on the 16-18 March 2021.

The automotive engineering community is now confronting the largest technology transformation since its inception. The demand to manufacture cleaner, safer, and smarter vehicles, along with providing an overall enhanced driving and ride experience, has never been higher. As a result, engineering teams must discover, evaluate, and successfully implement leading-edge technology and methods to produce reliable, effective results.

Hence, the challenges for automotive engineers are enormous and require a significant increase in the upfront use of numerical simulation capabilities, methods, and processes such that they’re able to efficiently design, manufacture and deliver these innovative technologies to market in greater speeds than ever before.

Resource Abstract

Simulation has advanced massively over the years and has been fundamental in improving the product creation processes in all industrial sectors. Reflecting on the growth in software, connectivity, engineering, customer product complexity and improving production simulation methods, how can boardrooms exploit the potential of simulations to the fullest?



Having started my career over forty years ago by writing gaseous emissions simulation programmes for large industrial engines, I realised early on that effective calculation is far better than testing!



Having more recently gained 15 years' boardroom experience driving product development in the automotive industry, I can highlight the use of these methods to the best competitive advantage. This involves clear alignment of all key stakeholders, clear engagement of the system's simulation expertise, looking beyond existing methods and by driving from the top.



I hope by giving examples across a number of sectors and technologies, I can engage the audience in good and bad practice to ensure simulation is always at the forefront of product development.