The focus of the NAFEMS Stochastics Working Group (SWG) is to champion and improve best practices related to stochastic engineering analysis and simulation methods and tools. The SWG promotes the extension of current engineering analysis and simulation practices to include stochastic methods and tools, enabling virtual product development processes to be closer to the real behaviour of the modelled systems and components.

As part of this remit, the SWG regularly issues challenge problems with the following goals:

• Identify how to advance the inclusion of uncertainties in model development practices and Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) predictive capabilities.

• Learn more about the NAFEMS community’s needs and application of stochastic methods.

• Enable the NAFEMS community to experiment and learn more about the available stochastic methods.

• Provide examples and training for Professional Simulation Engineer (PSE) competencies.

• Challenge the current practices and “state of the art” of stochastic methods.

This article appeared in the October 2025 Issue of BENCHMARK.