Message from CDAJ

CAE from a Tool to The Methodology and Process

Many companies have been facing two issues in the use of CAE:

How effective can accurate analysis results be obtained; and
How CAE use can be extended to designers.

CDAJ has been working with a number of companies to assist in introducing and utilizing CAE/CFD tools. In product design and development stages, many companies make effective use of CAE successfully, while some falls into unfortunate conditions due to fewer effects than expected in spite of using the same CAE tool. A key difference between both sides depends on whether analysis know-how and methodology are established for the CAE tool to be consistent with each development theme after introducing the tool. Furthermore, it would not be an exaggeration to say that the difference depends on whether the know-how and methodology are evolved into a process that can be extended to designers.

Needless to say, CAE software is simply a “tool”. As technologies evolve, CAE increasingly grows powerful as a tool; however, buying a tool does not mean introducing CAE. After the buying, application techniques, know-hows and process for the use should be developed. CAE is technically established through the accumulation of those phases. This often requires much more time and cost than the buying.

Commercial CAE tools provide numerous intelligent features. Some tools aim to be high-end for complicated physics including even coupled analysis by multi-fields tools, while other tools go to simplification that a limited feature set does not make users aware of complicated technologies. The former becomes much powerful if the tool is appropriately used, but it needs advanced know-hows and techniques on which feature and how it should be used to obtain optimal solutions because of its rich and complicated feature set. On the other hand, the latter is seemingly-simple for every user to get results easily, but if taking one misstep due to the unawareness this approach may give incorrect results misleading designs, even in a qualitative estimation. Use of such tools requires guidelines based on reliable CAE techniques and know-hows for the use.

When considering CAE utilization strategy in companies, only functional evaluation of tools is no longer sufficient. The strategy needs to define theme selection with matching application technologies after the tool introduction and deployment policy including know-hows establishment and utilization process. It is an issue that involves software/hardware, as well as processes in employees, organizations and product development, and multiple factors such as technologies and investments.

CDAJ believes that tool provision as a CAE vendor is not enough to help our customers, and thus CDAJ promises to engage in our business to be a company providing “Total Solutions with Tools, Technologies and Process Establishment” for our customers. This year, CDAJ will present, focusing on CAE Total Solutions that CDAJ aims, state-of-the-art technologies and up-to-date information for tools, application know-hows, and process establishment from domestic and abroad.