Wider Design Participation Promised

"Before you can build a machine you have to design it. But in between those two stages you need to test it — ideally in digital form rather than as a physical prototype. Many types of design software, however, inhibit experimentation because of built-in constraints. "

That would be good, as long as you are dealing with knowns, Throw in unknown variables such as in a process. An example design a cooker or that would to create the amount of shear in the product, or heat efficiencies using steam. At this point the only way to test this is start up.

Of course we have pilot or lab equipment as well as experience to use as a reference point. Try to keep in mind that CAD, CAM, CFD, FEA or what have you, these are only tools. no more. Today you still need the trained technician to set-up, create and interpreted these results.

And the comment;

"systems of this sort will facilitate the creation of dynamic models that are easily edited. "

Easy to the trained technician yes, but labeling it as such, there may be more to it. When laymen read this, their interpretation of easy is a few strokes on a keyboard. Which is rarely the case.

And there is considerable upfront costs to setup dynamic model, which should reduce the time downstream. There are projects that one can apply this, but doing OEM or one offs, the question is, doing it this way can you be competitive?

well said..

A bit like the electronic circuit simulation packages...it's still quicker to build the circuit if its fairly small!

Like our respected members said these softwares and programs have veriables put from past knowns , stimulations are ok till lab level , but for manufacturing you have to have protype for tests in real world , the programs can be used for designing and calculations from utilisation and economical point of view , what my point is designing a building or dam or so is differrent from designing a machine , you don`t rebuild buldings due to error or mis design from scratch everytime but regarding machines alterations can happen from vary basics to changing parameters completly

Testing any prototypes by people at the factory or the design team will never turn up all of the problems. Knowing how a machine is suppose to work almost guarantees an operator will cause it to fail.

Poor instructions, didn't remember the instructions, couldn't read the instructions (illaterate),use of brute force when it isn't called for, climate extremes, etc.