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Dassault Systèmes

Olivier Sappin, Director Automotive Solutions Dassault Systèmes

One of the most significant issues for the automotive industry for 2018 will be environmental impact and the role of technology in its reduction. Automotive manufacturers will move away from the classic powertrain to next generation clean engines.

The use of Virtual Car development tools already give automotive manufacturers the ability to produce environmentally cleaner cars using fewer resources with lower waste levels. As the tools develop so will the user, consumer and environmental benefits meaning that by 2018 we will have moved closer towards sustainability.

By 2018 the online availability of virtual products will become universal and with it the arrival of a time of true engineering collaboration. The entire design-to-production environment will use a single data source based on evolving 3D model technology. Currently only 15% of those involved with automotive development have access to 3D Virtual data. New tools will provide the benefits of 3D to all. This will enable more efficient working practices and a significant enhancement of communications leading to reduced cost, better products and considerably more control over increasingly flexible internal and external supply chains.

Waste adds financial as well as environmental cost to automotive production. The virtual car, supported by PLM (Product Lifecycle Technology) tools, reduces waste in processes by providing the right data in the right format to those who need it. The ability to compress production time with concurrent working practice enables those in the supply chain to work non-sequentially i.e. without having to wait for others to finish their tasks first thereby saving time and materials while improving efficiency.

These practices, which have already started but which will be standard practice by 2018, mean that automotive engineering will experience accelerated evolution, which, as the technology is universally deployed, will become exponential.

The skills needed to handle this level of activity will be very similar to those required for today’s high speed industry; mathematics, design talent and engineering prowess. These will still be of paramount importance but in addition will be added the ability to communicate and work in global teams. Those who can combine these skills and take a systematic multi-disciplined approach will come out on top.

Dassault Systemes is planning for the next decade by amassing and developing an integrated software portfolio that allows both expert and non-specialist people to enjoy its benefits. That means providing full online access to the products and making them simpler to use.

By 2018 the virtual product will become much more realistic as simulation tools develop and blur the distinction between what is real and what is not.

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