These slides were presented at the NAFEMS World Congress 2025, held in Salzburg, Austria from May 19–22, 2025.

Abstract

Designer level tools ever improving and sometimes embedded into CAD packages for easier access for designers. The tools are so easy to use that designers often prefer to use the standalone tools rather than within their CAD tool. These tools also don'™t typically require skills in creating or even knowledge of various element types, mesh sizing, etc. The tools also can have Multiphysics and optimization capabilities. And to top it off, they can provide almost instantaneous results. These tools are aiding the design of components and subsystems in near real time by providing physics-based insights that allow better design decisions very early in the design and development process. In addition to designers using simulation tools, where a mature simulation culture exists, project leaders and decision makers expect and rely on simulation results to make product and design decisions. This in turn drives analysts, designers, project leaders, etc. to develop not just one-off simulations, but large DOE'™s, AI/ML for fast running reduced order models, optimization, etc. '“ all to increase the speed and quality of simulation-based decision making. Cloud and HPC systems have enabled the large-scale adoption of simulation. Simulation and Process Data Management tools are also becoming increasingly relied upon for model storage and re-use and can enable significant engineering efficiency improvements. The speed and power of computer resources will continue to increase driving a simulation culture to do more, faster, better. GPU'™s are already having a significant impact today and things like Quantum computing are being used in some industries. As tools become easier to use and simulation tools, processes, models and results become ubiquitous across an organization, what is the role of the traditional simulation expert? The author recommends 4 key things: ? Continued deep understanding of physics and tool capabilities; ? Mentor and guide others; ? Process automation/management with focus on Multiphysics; ? The new, unique and difficult. This paper / presentation will go into more detail on these 4 items and provide additional details regarding the democratization of simulation tools and methods.