This conference paper was submitted for presentation at the NAFEMS World Congress 2025, held in Salzburg, Austria from May 19–22, 2025.

Abstract

For the last decade simulation governance has been increasingly recognized as a key contributor to improve engineering simulation. It has been documented in several standards and publications ever since and it has gained broad interest at NAFEMS venues. Simulation governance is a prerequisite for the proper management of numerical simulation practices, and it is often defined as the command and control of numerical simulation. Some of its fundamental principles are relevant for simulation even outside numerical simulation. Expectations for simulation governance as the means for success to innovate simulation have been well documented. On one hand management expects more clarity of its opportunities and needs for innovation in product design, manufacturing and maintenance that can reasonably be achieved by new simulation technology and new ways of working with simulation. On the other hand, simulation governance should provide a guide rail how to implement the necessary changes in engineering simulation to meet set objectives for cost efficiency, reduced physical testing, new staffing requirements and similar aims. In short, simulation governance effort can be strategy focused or way-of-working focused. Naturally, it consists of both and for its successful implementation for increased engineering efficiency it needs both of these comprehensive sets of definitions, analyses, methods and tools in a state-of-the-art, proven and relevant interplay. Yet, experience from communications with industrial engineering simulation professionals shows two separate points of interest: strategy focused vs. way-of-working or implementation focus. This discussion takes a closer look into the benefits of both and builds on previous discussions on simulation governance best practices presented in Indianapolis in 2022 and in Tampa in 2023. Also, it builds on long experience of successful compilation of engineering digitalization innovation strategy and transformation implementation at leading international industrial corporations. Conclusion of this discussion shows the validity and relevance of the statement made by a great thinker of mathematical physics almost 300 years ago: 'œhypotheses are made in order to discover the truth; they must not be passed off as the truth itself.' Separation of the assumption and the truth in numerical simulation is more critical and possible than ever before as discussed in this presentation and this is where simulation governance plays a unique role today.