Product development process involves every step of creating a new technology. That is, from the identification of possibilities, to the manufacture of prototypes and distribution of finished products.
There are different opportunities for improvement in each step. In this post, we will discuss some trends to optimize the development process through computer simulations.
Within our area of expertise and expertise, they have been widely used for a long time and offer very significant competitive advantages.
What are the steps in the development of new technologies?
Product development processes varies with each project, but in general there are some commonalities and technologies that are widely used in the market. For instance:
- Computer-aided engineering (CAE);
- Design optimization;
- Definition of costs, test periods, required space, weight, power;
- Simulation, numerical analysis and computerized tests.
Only after this virtual validation are physical tests started with the prototypes, to ensure that the components meet the necessary criteria to work effectively.
Finally, there is the approval process, to ensure the components are within the legislation and quality standards in terms of noise production, for example. From there, the components are manufactured and enter the market.
After being marketed, a series of data is collected on the product’s functioning, receptivity and lifetime. All of this offers insights for creating new versions in the future.
According to our partners at HBK,
the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the transformation in production cycles. Investments in software and simulations in several areas were the path found by companies to shorten cycles.
The company’s CTO cites Zoom and the Microsoft Teams’ resource ecosystem as examples of companies that have been forced to step up to speed because of the pandemic.
In engineering, we can cite the automotive industry as an example of investment in simulations. Through numerical analysis it is possible to predict the functioning of systems and components before going to physical tests or starting prototyping.
The results are saving time and financial resources in the development of the project.
How does technology accelerate the product development process?
Reducing production time is important because it increases the productivity and growth potential of each sector. Taking too long to develop a technology can mean lagging behind a competitor, or in meeting a market demand.
Having robust, agile and cost-effective production processes are one of the main ways to remain competitive in the market.
Today, there are some market trends to meet these goals. Neural networks, for example, speed up the start of the process. Despite advances in simulation technologies, virtual simulations and prototyping must be aligned with physical tests to generate data that add value to projects.
In addition to reducing costs and production time, these techniques are also reflected in design optimizations, without decreasing the quality of the final products.
For manufacturers, this is reflected in higher productivity. And, in the long run, it translates into higher quality and potentially lower prices for consumers.
Here at Vibroacustica, we specialize in various tests and analyzes that optimize the product development process.
See our portfolio to know some projects, and our services page to know the list of methods we use to improve the quality of our clients’ projects.
