EDACafe Industry Predictions for 2020 – Zuken USA

The year 2020 kicks off a decade of transformation. Companies will move from a tool-centric design process to a model-centric design process–known as Digital Engineering.

Digital Engineering is part of the larger Digital Transformation movement. Many companies have recently embarked on their own Digital Transformation journey with their sights set on improving efficiency and competitiveness. A recent IDC study showed that 90% of small- and medium-sized businesses are budgeting for the digital transformation, and 73% have already begun the process. According to the survey, the top goal for these companies making the digital transformation journey is to improve product development and design processes. Let me repeat that–“the top goal for these companies making the digital transformation journey is to improve product development and design processes”.

Prediction #1 – The Rise of Digital Engineering

In 2018, the Department of Defense (DoD) published a Digital Engineering Strategy (link to https://www.a

cq.osd.mil/se/docs/2018-DES.pdf) as the basis for future DoD programs. The first goal of the strategy is the adoption of a model-based design process that provides a single source of truth. The DoD is taking the lead on defining Digital Engineering, but the model-based design practice is already pervasive. Any complex product development effort can benefit from Digital Engineering.

A model-based design process is more rigorous than the current document-driven process. Systems Engineering defines relationships in the model between structure, requirements and behavior that convey the project or product purpose. The model is decomposed into an architecture consisting of electronic subsystems (e.g., ECUs or ECMs) and the logical interconnection (e.g., wire harnesses). The model creates a design envelope for each of the design elements. Any violation of the design envelope needs to go back to Systems Engineering for reconciliation at the project level.

The entire product team has a single source of truth built from relationships that will improve product quality, safety and align with the system purpose.

Prediction #2 – Closing the Digital Engineering Design Process Gap

Model realizati

on requires the model to move from Systems Engineering to detailed design. Today, the model resides primarily in Systems Engineering. This must change. Maximizing the value of Digital Engineering requires the model to remain relevant throughout the design process.

Zuken recently acquired Vitech Corporation, a leader in Model-based Systems Engineering (MBSE) design solutions. Having both the MBSE piece and the detailed design piece, the design process gap can be closed keeping the model alive through design for electrical and electronic systems.

For E/E subsystems, the model will be exposed to the design team without launching the MBSE tools. The design envelope is now conveyed programmatically versus manually. Closing the design process gap between systems engineering and detailed design is already happening today.

Closing the Gap with Architecture Optimization and Verification

Prediction #3 – The Digital Thread Emerges

From the E/E design process perspective, the need for a Digital Thread is clear. As the adoption of Digital Engineering practices gains momentum, the Digital Thread acts as the digital communication backbone. The discussions, negotiations and approvals that occur during the design process are contained in the Digital Thread along with the Technical Data Packages (TDP) driving those conversations. For an example of a Digital Thread or Intelligent Information Management (IIM) solution, look at Anark Corporation. Anark offers a browser-based environment that supports procurement, design and manufacturing for electrical, electronic and mechanical design. As digitalization occurs in the Digital Engineering process, the Digital Thread provides the communication and traceability backbone. Look for this digital communication and intelligent information management backbone to become a hot topic of discussion in the coming year.

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