Engineering Evolved: Getting Performance Right the First Time

By DE Editors

Profitability Impact of Improving Product Performance with Simulation. Source: Aberdeen, November 2008

Aberdeen Group (Boston, MA) — in its quest to determine the best ways for manufacturers and contract engineering firms to find success amid the intensifying competition of today's marketplace — recently released the results of its latest survey. Questions in the survey surrounded the notion of getting performance right the first time.

To beat the competition, today's manufacturers are trying to build better products, faster, and at less cost. Meeting these often-conflicting criteria is challenging in its own right, but better performance relies on a complex integrated system of mechanical components, electrical components, and embedded software controls. This level of complexity combined with ever-pressing market pressures requires new ways of exploring product performance. Some are turning to simulation to solve these challenges.

Strategic Actions of the Best-in-Class to Improve Product Performance. Source: Aberdeen Group, November 2008

Among the results of the survey, Aberdeen culled five compelling facts it says should provide actionable benefits for readers:

• Best-in-class companies meet product launch dates 40 percent more often than the industry average and 3.2 times as often as laggards.

• Best-in-class companies meet product development budgets 36 percent more often than the industry average and twice as often as laggards.

• Best-in-class companies meet product revenue targets 23 percent more often than the industry average and 2.2 times as often as laggards.

• Best-in-class companies report 36 percent fewer engineering change orders (ECOs) than the industry average after design release to manufacturing and 75 percent fewer than laggards.

• Best-in-class companies meet product cost targets 2.7 times as often as laggards.

You can find access to the full report at aberdeen.com.

For details, please contact Aberdeen Group.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company's website.