SCIENCE

Advanced and Downstream 3D Capabilities Decrease Physical Prototypes, Change Orders: A new Aberdeen benchmark report discloses that by using 3D software, best-in-class manufacturers of the most complex products get to market 99 days earlier and pay $50,637 less in product- development costs than average performers. Because virtual prototyping reveals design issues online, manufacturers using 3D software typically require 1.4 fewer physical prototypes than average performers and 6.1 fewer change orders than laggards, resulting in dramatic product-development time and cost savings. The Transition from 2D Drafting to 3D Modeling Benchmark Report quantifies the benefits of migrating to 3D design software. It also discusses the current pressures and challenges in the marketplace that make migration difficult. According to Chad Jackson, Service Director of Aberdeen's Product Innovation and Engineering practice and report author, "To remain competitive, manufacturers migrating from 2D drafting must maintain user productivity in the face of increasing demand for more products and more complex products and shorter time-to-market windows." This represents a significant challenge due o the requisite considerations of end-user training, 3D application performance, and the conversion of legacy designs. However, report statistics reveal best practices of best-in-class companies that help them meet product development targets for revenues, costs, launch dates, and quality 84% or more of the time. For example, top performers: -- Initially document design deliverables in electronic form - saving 2D-to-3D conversion time. They are 40% more likely to have engineers use 3D modeling tools directly rather than allocating modeling tasks to drafters. -- Acquire new hardware to avoid 3D model performance issues. All top performers surveyed purchased new hardware when adding 3D tools compared to 53% of laggards. -- Deploy advanced 3D design capabilities such as simulation and analysis (24% more than peers), and implement complementary downstream capabilities of 3D modeling - such as tool design - 55% more than peers. The report is made available to the public through the underwriting of AMD, Autodesk, PTC, SolidWorks, and UGS. To download the follow this link: Generic Pub Partner - its Web site. Aberdeen Group, Inc. provides fact-based research and insights focused on the global, technology-driven value chain. Aberdeen's benchmarking, market and solution assessments, sales acceleration programs, and conferences support Global 5000 value chain and technology executives and the solution providers who serve them. For more information, visit its Web site or call 617-723-7890.