In engineering and operational contexts, efficiency is often represented as a percentage. But efficiency is also an imperative for progress and innovation. Being more efficient really has no limits because what may be 100% efficient today can only ever be measured against what the current solutions can provide to drive that efficiency. When new technology is introduced, efficiency has to be reassessed because technology is constantly evolving. Thus, what may have been viewed as 100% efficient a year ago may be considered considerably less efficient by today’s standards.

As we discussed in part 1 of this short blog series on simulation, the evolution of modelling and simulation provides a bridge between design concepts and product manufacture, with the added benefit of enabling engineering teams to virtually run multiple scenarios to ensure optimized component manufacture. But how does this support the assembly process and what additional benefits will new developments, including the digital twin and AI, bring? In this blog, we will delve into these topics in more detail.

The abstract concept of simulation has a long history. Artisans use models of their work in order to share a vision or explore new ideas, architects construct intricate scale models of buildings to better conceive the way light and space might work together. In engineering, simulation has assumed new importance, as it provides a stepping-stone between two-dimensional drawings and a three-dimensional product. More importantly, it allows engineering teams to develop multiple scenarios in a virtual world where the cost is much lower.