Simulation Governance: Challenges in the Age of Data and Digitalization

As innovations in product development and the digitalization of everything continue, the challenge to ensure and improve simulation capability is key to product design quality assurance.

Trends such as digitalization, democratization and the data deluge of IoT are placing increased stress on simulation confidence and credibility. Simulations are to be embedded in other tools (e.g., generative design in CAD) and used by many non-experts. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning propose data-based “simulations” that challenge usual approaches to V&V and UQ. Simulation is acritical and essential strategic capability across the company, and not the exclusive province of specialist simulation groups in product engineering and manufacturing.

Our panel of experts will discuss these and other governance challenges to ensure simulation quality and accuracy. Following initial questions from the Moderator, the Panel will address questions and comments from the audience.

Participants

Alexander Karl holds a PhD and MSc in Aerospace technology from the University of Stuttgart in Germany. He has 25+ years of work experience with Rolls-Royce. During this period Alexander was working in several major sites and sectors (Dahlewitz, Derby and Indianapolis). Alexander’s background is thermo-mechanical analysis but for the last 20+ years Alexander is working actively in the area of multi-disciplinary optimization, Robust Design (Design for Six Sigma) and Systems Engineering. His main focus is the application of these tools, methods and processes to real engineering challenges. Alexander is a Fellow for Robust Design and Systems Engineering within Rolls-Royce. He is also an active member of NAFEMS promoting a wider application of these methods, processes and tools.

Fatma Kocer-Poyraz has received a B.Sc. degree in Civil Engineering from the Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey and MSc and PhD degrees from the University of Iowa in Structural Optimization. After graduation, she joined Visteon to develop processes for design optimization of structural and electromagnetic parts. In 2006, she started in Altair as Product Line Manager for Altair HyperWorks design exploration and optimization products. Currently she works as the Vice President for Engineering Data Science. In this role, she and her team works on engineering data science strategy, development and execution which includes investigating and applying latest technologies in the field, providing feedback to Altair software and supporting customer projects. Fatma Kocer-Poyraz is one of the recipients of Crain’s 2019 Notable Women in STEM recognition. She is also the Vice-Chair for NAFEMS Engineering Data Science Working Group since 2021.

Dr. Keith Meintjes has over 45 years of experience in the development and application of physics-based simulation tools to transform product and manufacturing system development. Early in his career he developed thermodynamic and CFD simulation models for engine combustion and performance. In nearly 30 years at General Motors, he oversaw business requirements for the world’s largest commercial engineering computing (HPC) facility and contributed to strategic planning that leveraged digital PLM tools to revolutionize GM’s product development process. Since 2008 he has been a consultant at CIMdata, helping companies to implement simulation and virtual strategies. Companies now rely on virtual assessments for information to make engineering decisions. Consequently, Simulation Governance (strategic management) to develop capability and maintain confidence in simulation should be a concern of senior management. Keith holds BSc and MSc degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of the Witwatersrand, and an MA and Ph.D. from Princeton University. He is a NAFEMS Technical Fellow (2021).

Andy Richardson is a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. He has over 30 yrs experience in Automotive Engineering at Jaguar Land Rover, with 20 years at Senior Management level, including 10 years as Head of Engineering Simulation. Andy also recently spent 2 years in Aerospace at Airbus Commercial Aircraft as Senior Manager for Airframe Methods and Tools. In 2019 formed PHRONESIM Ltd to provide consulting in all aspects of Engineering Simulation Strategy helping major organisations globally with; simulation capability maturity assessment, simulation strategy development, improvement roadmaps, and simulation strategy training and coaching. Andy holds a BSc in Engineering from Coventry, a MSc in Numerical Modelling from Aston University, and an MBA from Warwick University Business School. Andy is a member of the NAFEMS UK Steering Committee, Assess Business Theme Committee, and the Simulation Governance and Management Working Group.

Gregory Westwater is a simulation manager in the Flow Controls division of Emerson. He has more than twenty years of experience doing numerical simulation work on control valves and other Emerson industrial automation products. He received his BSME and MSME degrees from Iowa State University. He currently chairs the NAFEMS Simulation Governance and Management Working Group. In addition to prior presentations at NAFEMS conferences he has also presented work related to simulation at ASME conferences on Pressure Vessels and Piping (PVP) and Verification and Validation (V&V).