Staying Competitive with Generative Design

As manufacturing becomes more globalized, competition increases. Mergers and acquisitions are on the rise, and worker flexibility is foremost on the minds of hiring managers. To stay competitive in the world economy, you need differentiated products. And, you may have to do it with fewer engineers.

Within the next few years, there could be a gap of up to 2 million workers in the manufacturing industry. Senior engineers and analysts with decades of experience are nearing retirement age. There aren’t enough younger skilled workers to take their place. Naturally, productivity begins to dip, and new technology needs to be developed to close the gap. 

That’s where the latest generative design tools can help. Utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) within these tools, younger engineers can step up to larger projects and contribute by specifying requirements and using generative design to produce arrays of product possibilities. In minutes, the generative design engine can iterate through dozens of design options until the optimal geometry is achieved within the design constraints, a process that can take days or weeks using traditional design practices. This productivity boost frees up engineering time for other critical tasks.

How Can Generative Design Help?

Generative design, by definition, is a process that can autonomously produce a set of design alternatives that engineers can explore and refine to produce the best design that meets requirements.

Here’s a quick example. Say your company has the capability to produce a part by milling, casting, or additive manufacturing. Which process and materials are optimal for the part you’re designing? To find the best solution, you can use generative design to show possible variations for each of the manufacturing methods, and in the end you choose the one that best fits your requirements.

Note: While generative design is often associated with additive manufacturing, it isn’t limited to that. In Creo, you’ll find support for both subtractive and additive methods.

Generative design uses a stack of technologies, including topology optimization and simulations. All of these technologies work together, but the engineer remains in control. Using an interactive process, they specify loads, constraints, materials, and manufacturing processes.

In Creo, you can also get additional assistance with Generative Topology Optimization (GTO) and the Generative Design Extension (GDX). Used together, these AI-driven generative design tools can help you deliver more innovative, differentiated products, reduce the time to market, and reduce overall product costs..

See What It’s All About

In this generative design presentation, Linda Lokay, VP of Product Management, and Mark Fischer, Senior Director of CAD Product Management, discuss more about how generative design allows you to determine design intent, explore new ideas faster, and discover solutions you might not have considered. Plus, you’ll see examples in PTC Creo that show the innovation and ROI that generative design can bring to your product development.

If you couldn’t attend the conference, you can still “Level Up Your Productivity” with the free replay at the link below. Product development is always evolving, so make sure you’re keeping up with the latest tools and techniques. Check it out today!