How do manufacturers navigate the complexity of adding integrated sensors, smart chips, networking capability and software to create innovative, reliable smart devices for the home? Product complexity keeps increasing The integration of electronics, mechanical systems, and software in smart consumer devices introduces new challenges for research and development teams. Whether designing a robotic vacuum, or a humanoid robot, automated garden tools, or ebikes and baby gear manufacturers need skilled engineers across multiple disciplines. Intuitively engineering managers know that incorporating c ..read more

Transformation is the critical trend in beauty manufacturing The pace of change in the cosmetics industry is ever-accelerating, propelled by the constant change in beauty trends and consumer preferences.  This demand for ‘new’ requires fast product development.  Manufacturers need to innovate, launch and rapidly iterate products to stay relevant for consumers and competitive in the marketplace. With consumers clamoring for more natural, healthier and more sustainable formulations and packaging, challenges arise in manufacturing as they have to keep up with short product lifecycles an ..read more

In the incredibly fast-paced world of consumer packaged goods (CPG), every second spent in research and development (R&D) labs is critical.  R&D leaders are on a mission to unravel some of the industry’s toughest puzzles.  However, from increasing lab productivity and accelerating the speed of new product introductions to reducing the cost of experiments, the journey is far from simple.  To seize leadership in the market, R&D labs can unleash their full potential with the transformative power of a smart digital lab.  Consumer demand for innovation shows no signs ..read more

At a special event a few years ago in its Harajuku flagship store, ASICS created a unique, interactive experience for its customers, giving them an opportunity to get their hands on a pair of athletic shoes made to perfectly fit their feet. In store, they got their feet measured and 3D-scanned. This data was then used to generate a personalized sock liner and show how it could enhance foot support and improve comfort when wearing their shoes. The aim of the concept was to add a new dimension to simply trying on physical products. Customers were shown less visible parts of the shoe so they coul ..read more

The take-make-waste model isn’t cutting it anymore, for the planet or for business. Did you know that the OECD estimates just 9% of the plastic waste we produce each year gets recycled? The United Nations Environment Program did the aftermaths: that’s 36 million tons of the 400 million tons of the plastic waste we produce annually. The remaining 364 million tons gets incinerated, or finds its way into landfills or the oceans. By 2050, Ellen MacArthur Foundation estimates there could be more plastic in the seas than fish! Plastic isn’t the only problem: Our steel, concrete and carbon-based ..read more

2023 was a year of unprecedented challenges and innovations. It was a year when manufacturers and public sector concerns embraced digitalization to become more agile, revolutionary medtech marked the end of a global pandemic and sustainability efforts met new milestones. Breaking through fluctuating markets and uncertainties opened new avenues for growth.  As we move into 2024, what are your biggest questions about the coming year? What’s the latest technology? What’s the next big news to look out for? And most importantly, how can we prepare for all the challenges and opportunities that ..read more

Background Cultivated meat, plant-based protein, and fermented protein constitute a class of alternative proteins to replace traditional meat from productive livestock. This new trend in nutrition is causing controversy but also creates hope to address more fundamental challenges facing humanity today, such as hunger and poverty, climate change, health, and animal safety. For fermented protein development, researchers design a precision fermentation process by isolating specific strains of bacteria or yeast. For optimizing the growth potential and nutritional characteristics, it is key to ..read more

Design, Build, Test In the beginning, before simulation, products were produced using a “design-build-test” approach in which physical prototypes are built, then tested in a lab or proving ground, to determine how the product would function in the real world. While this approach is still widely used today, design-build-test no longer best serves the needs of industry as many processes, requirements and regulations change and evolve.  Problems Industry Faces There are several challenges that the industry must address when designing products. One problem industry faces is schedule and cost ..read more

Today, in most industries, product design still relies on multiple design analysis cycles and physical prototyping. The speed of innovation is only as fast as the handover of information between these siloed processes. Unified modelling and simulation, known commonly as MODSIM, promises to change that. This emerging collaborative approach to design and simulation aims to significantly accelerate design exploration, optimization and validation cycles. And it’s being brought to life by technologies such as the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, which seamlessly brings together the capabilities of CAD and si ..read more

In a world where consumer prices are constantly on the rise, companies must take a close look at their supply chains to ensure they are cost-effective and efficient and always producing goods of a consistent quality. However, supply chain disruptions can happen at any time, and can be a major issue for manufacturers. From weather to politics to resource depletion, these disturbances often have consequences that trickle down and affect consumers. But they don’t have to. With technology that enables companies to map out all the variables in their supply chain, pivoting between suppliers, transpo ..read more