Dassault Systèmes leads manufacturing into a future of digital, sustainable designs

Leaders at the 3DEXPERIENCE WORLD 2024 in Dallas discuss the integration of AI and simulation into design processes.

The manufacturing sector is cast as one of the world’s largest industrial waste contributors. In recent years, it has generated 18 times more than municipal solid waste or the composition of common household garbage, according to the World Economic Forum.

The good news is that in the past three years, the majority of the world’s manufacturers have integrated digital solutions in their design process to diminish solid waste output.

At the 25^th 3DEXPERIENCE WORLD held in Dallas, Dassault Systèmes boldly hailed artificial intelligence (AI) as the new technology that will lift the manufacturing sector and its solid waste management processes to heights yet unseen.

“One day you will have to design your waste. You will have to design not only the product, not only the experience that your consumers are having, but also the waste it will be producing,” Dassault Systèmes Executive Chairman Bernard Charles told the event held last 11 to 14 February. “So [the waste] can be a resource for someone else, this is what is happening in the future of design around the world.”

The world generates a staggering 2.01 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste annually, with a significant portion of that — estimated at least 33% not managed in an environmentally safe manner — according to the World Bank.

Since 2020, 92% of manufacturers have stated that “improving operational efficiency” is their main priority and 67% of them have taken steps towards digitalisation.

“Examples of this form of wide-scale transformation can be seen in a variety of sectors, all of which have been enabled by digital tools, and manufacturers are looking to undergo a similar evolution,” read the 2021 Digital Transformation Assessment report commissioned by IBM.

“In order to achieve this, manufacturers are increasingly taking the data and insights they’ve unlocked to maximise operational efficiency and using it to innovate their offerings and transition from selling products to offering experiences,” the report said.

Speaking from the perspective of Dassault Systèmes, Charles discussed the evolution of design processes, emphasising how it has integrated AI and simulation into its 3DEXPERIENCE Works.

Next-level design manufacturing

The convergence of modelling, simulation, and AI within the 3DEXPERIENCE Works platform promises to revolutionise design workflows across various industries with its 12 brand names.

Charlès painted a vivid picture of a future where AI-powered tools enable designers to create, optimise, and evaluate design alternatives rapidly. From eco-friendly materials to virtual twin simulations, the possibilities showcased a glimpse of the transformative power of technology.

Gian Paolo Bassi, senior vice president of 3DEXPERIENCE Works and customer role experience at Dassault Systèmes, reinforced the commitment to innovation, which he said reflects the company’s journey with its brand SOLIDWORKS over the past 25 years.

From humble beginnings to becoming a cornerstone of modern design, SOLIDWORKS’ 2D and 3D capabilities have continually evolved to meet the needs of its diverse user base.

“Design itself is changing. It must be used in the downstream operations. The shapes and sizes of the devices that you use and the operating systems running on those devices are diverse and we recognise that,” Chief Executive Officer of SOLIDWORKS, Manish Kumar, told the audience at the Dallas event.

“It is the same SOLIDWORKS that you have been using for the past 20 to 30 years but it comes with the platform – which gives you an option to take your collaborative design needs into your control to the next level. And the other flavour. It comes on the platform, completely browser-based device agnostic. It runs from anywhere on any device. And both these flavours are here to stay,” Kumar said.

He stressed that AI is not a new concept, especially with SOLIDWORKS. Tools such as Made Helper, Selection Helper, Sketch Helper and auto-detection of annotations are readily available AI-driven instruments in the 3DEXPERIENCE Works platform.

He also announced a range of forthcoming AI-driven capabilities, including image-to-sketch command prediction and auto-drawing creation, promising to revolutionise design processes. Notably, the company teased an upcoming feature that would utilise AI to create entire drawings based on user models

The SOLIDWORKS CEO associated his personal experience with digital photos and the automation it goes through his Google to how data management in their very own platform duplicates this “magic.”

“Freedom from handling complex interconnected data, you don’t just create photos, right? You need freedom from data organisation, you need freedom from thinking about safety, security, backup location where data is getting access from devices,” Kumar said. “We deliver AI-driven organisation of your data, allowing you to focus on what truly matters to you, which is innovation.”

Success stories from the region

The convention’s agenda included discussions on the practical implementation of these technologies, with a spotlight on customer success stories. Notable clients include India-based QARGOS and Tigoona.

 QARGOS, a motor vehicle manufacturing company, unveiled its e-scooter, during the 3DEXPERIENCE World event. As part of their product development process, QARGOS has integrated advanced structural battery, thermal, and electromagnetic simulations into their design workflow.

These simulations play a crucial role in driving improvements and refining the design of their upcoming product.

Tigoona also focuses on mobility solutions tailored specifically for street entrepreneurs in India. This initiative is centred around a design-led approach aimed at enhancing the quality of life and income opportunities for street entrepreneurs while revitalising last-mile connectivity in urban areas.

Tigoona achieves this by focusing on three key pillars: better mobility, better visibility, and better retailing standards.

Another is Japan-headquartered Nagano Automation, which utilises the 3DEXPERIENCE Works platform’s advanced technology to precisely control liquids across various fields. This includes applications such as ink injection for printers and liquid crystal injection in the early stages of production.

Additionally, Nagano Automation leverages the platform for manufacturing equipment related to secondary batteries and other purposes.

The message was clear: the future of design is collaborative, sustainable, and driven by technology. As the industry continues to evolve, the spirit of innovation and community will propel design forward for the next 25 years and beyond, Bassi told the audience.

“Albert Einstein said that experience is the ultimate knowledge. Our quest is to learn from those experiences, extract the knowledge and know-how from that experience, and help you build new experiences while protecting your intellectual property (IP),” said Kumar. “I’ll repeat: protecting your IP, protecting your data, and protecting your sovereignty.”