Overcoming “What If” with Virtual Prototyping

Do you ever agonize over a mistake? Zigged when you should have zagged? If so, what went wrong probably plays in your head on a perpetual loop with all the enjoyment of enduring the tune of “It’s a Small World” on repeat.

The “What if?” question is probably dates back to the beginning of time, but to err is human… to simulate is divine. So “what if” you didn’t have to worry about “what if” anymore? What if you could design products with deep insight into the great unknown? For example, what if you choose to manufacture a product out of steel versus titanium? Will one material help your product perform better? Certainly. Now, what if you knew this while you were designing rather than when you were testing your first physical prototypes? By taking a concurrent engineering approach and virtually testing your products while you design, agonizing about “what if” can become a thing of the past.

According to a new report from Aberdeen Research, “Virtual Prototyping vs. Traditional Product Development Methods,” this fast-paced reality means that relying solely on hand calculations and testing of physical prototypes is no longer a viable design approach. The most successful companies are turning to virtual testing while they design and are obtaining major benefits in development speed, cost, and quality. Here’s an overview showing how best-in-class companies are performing:

As companies struggle to competitively differentiate their products and beat competitors to market, quick decisions within engineering have become increasingly critical. Cutting “what if” from the equation helps you make better engineering choices to ultimately bring your best products to life. Click here to read the full report and learn how best-in-class companies are eliminating “What If” thanks to concurrent engineering.