The demand for engineering simulation software tools is exploding in response to deal with the rapidly growing complexity of products, processes, and systems and as companies increased competitiveness. At the same time, the industry is having difficulty keeping up with demand for the specialized experts needed to best use these complex tools.
That’s the word from the Assess Initiative, formed one year ago to expand the use and business benefit of engineering simulation software tools. The initiative, headquartered in Clarkesville, Ga., will hold its 2017 Congress in November, with attendance by invitation only.
The tools—which Assess defines as analysis, simulation, and systems engineering software—can’t meet the demand for more realistic virtual engineering simulations, because growth is directly related to the available expertise, according to the initiative.
A simulation revolution needs to occur, and Assess plans to be on the front lines, according to the initiative.
The Assess initiative itself crosses multiple industries that use engineering tools. Its main goal is to facilitate what it terms “a revolution of enablement that will vastly increase the availability and utility of engineering simulation. More availability will lead to significantly increased usage and business benefits across the full spectrum of industries, applications and users.
“The vision of the ASSESS Initiative is to bring together key players for guiding and influencing the software tool strategies for performing model-based analysis, simulation, and systems engineering,” according to a statement. “To achieve this vision the ASSESS Initiative will collaborate with multiple activities and organizations across the complete spectrum of engineering simulation.”
To that end, Tina Morrison, deputy director within the division of applied mechanics at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and Bob Tickel, director of structural and dynamic analysis at Cummins Inc. will be keynote speakers at the Assess 2017 Congress. Morrison has been serving as the regulatory advisor of Computational Modeling for the Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) since 2012
When it comes to medical devices submitted to the FDA for approval, Morrison says bench-top modeling (BM) and computer modeling alone can’t offer the insight needed regarding safety and performance of a device.
Computational modeling and simulation is the key to advance and speed device design and evaluation, she says.
Computation modeling of cardiovascular devices has become a valuable tool that can aid in the design and development of safe and effective devices. This increased emphasis on modeling necessitate increased emphasis on the development of validated models that accurate reflect reality.
“At the CDRH we plan to make computational modeling and simulation a part of the device evaluation process,” she says.
Computational modeling and simulation has been recognized by the CDRH as an innovative tool for advancing medical device evaluation and regulatory science. One of our priorities is the development of a public-private partnership to advance regulatory science with computational modeling.
The CDRH formed the Computational Modeling Working Group, which meet regularly to discuss current and future uses of computational modeling when it comes to device submission, she adds.
The group Tickel leads at Cummins is primarily responsible for providing design guidance for key structural components and systems for future products, as well as evaluating, developing and documenting new tools and methods. He’ll be presenting on “the future of modeling and simulation at Cummins.
“I am very pleased to be able to share my perspectives and ultimately to help Cummins better prepare for the expected simulation revolution,” he says.
