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

Abstract

Efficient product development, particularly for complex systems like vehicles, relies increasingly on a seamless integration of digital tools and processes. Simulation Data Management (SDM) plays a pivotal role in virtual product development by providing a centralized platform for managing, sharing, and automating key aspects of the development cycle. SDM ensures that all relevant data '“ ranging from simulation models and results to physical testing outcomes '“ are consistently available, fostering collaboration and enabling faster, more reliable decision-making across teams and locations. This presentation explores how a Systems Engineering approach, combined with a Simulation Data Management (SDM) platform and Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), supports the efficient development of complex products, such as vehicles. It highlights 1. the integration of MBSE methodologies, focusing on requirement definition and verification processes to streamline development and ensure alignment with technical requirements. Special attention is paid to traceability, which covers the entire process from requirements through verification by simulation and physical test to evaluation and reporting of the project status. 2. the role of an SDM platform in managing and sharing all relevant data, including simulation models, processes, results, and physical testing outcomes, while fostering collaboration across teams. It will show how CAE models and all types of process scripts are created and maintained by a small number of experts for use by all users across the Group's various brands and partners, ensuring smooth operation regardless of the location of the engineers, and enabling effective collaboration. 3. the efficiency gains through the automated evaluation of key results, which are compared directly to the predefined project requirements within the SDM system's user interface. This streamlines the process, reducing manual intervention and ensuring accuracy. Also, the automation of report generation is shown for simulation and physical test results which improves productivity, enabling quicker insights and decision-making. Using real-world examples, the presentation demonstrates how these tools and methodologies enable the whole simulation process as well as the definition of requirements, validation of sub-systems, and verification of the entire product through both simulation and physical testing. This integrated approach ensures a comprehensive and automated framework for virtual product development.