Press Release
MSC.Robust Design Wins Innovator Award From CAD CAM Magazine
Munich, Germany - March 5, 2004 - MSC.Software Corp. (NYSE: MNS), the leading global provider of virtual product development (VPD) products including simulation software and services, today announced that CADCAM Magazine has recognized MSC.Robust Design with its Innovator Award for 2003. MSC.Robust Design drives probabilistic design in MSC.Software simulation products by allowing multiple variables to be processed efficiently. The results of simulations powered by MSC.Robust Design provide more insight and better understanding of design sensitivity, allowing engineers to manage risk and improve product quality, safety and performance.
"MSC.Robust Design is an extremely exciting next step in the way we think about CAE and product development and we are very proud that the editorial board at CADCAM Magazine has recognized our achievement in bringing it to market," said Frank Perna, chairman and chief executive officer of MSC.Software.
Todays computer-aided engineering process is largely reliant upon deterministic analysis, where an engineer performs a computer test on a single model with one or more load conditions to obtain a single result. However, in the real world, both the model and environment have combinations of variability and uncertainty that must be considered to truly simulate possible outcomes. For example, passenger cars are manufactured with sheet metal, which is not always of uniform thickness. To obtain a realistic estimate of how the car will perform in terms of noise, vibration or crash; the variability of sheet metal thickness and the manufacturing imperfections, such as those encountered in the welding process, must be taken into account. Using MSC.Robust Design, engineers can automatically consider a range of simulations that randomly varies the sheet thickness, material property scatter, weld imperfections or loading, in order to simulate a realistic variety of outcomes. When complete, the engineer is presented with a graphical representation of the model's quality and credibility, and estimates of probability of failure.
MSC.Robust Design is very important for those companies who manufacture vehicles or any other product where personal safety or risk is a crucial design requirement. The more complex a product is, the higher the chance that some combination of uncertainties will have an unexpected and potentially undesired effect. This phenomenon, which can only be observed if the virtual prototype incorporates uncertainty, manifests itself as outliers, that is isolated points that in many cases can be translated directly into risk and liability. It is therefore of paramount importance to anticipate their presence and to understand the circumstances under which they arise.
Virtual prototype models represent a valuable asset in a company - an investment that captures corporate know-how and experience as it relates to product performance. MSC.Robust Design provides an opportunity to not only consolidate this knowledge, but also to extract additional, often unexpected, information about a system and its performance.
For more information about MSC.Robust Design, please visit http:/www.mscsoftware.com/products/.
About CAD CAM Magazine
Founded in 1982, CAD CAM is one of the most popular magazines for computer aided technologies in engineering and design in Germany and confining countries. CAD CAM is published seven times per year and covers the areas of CAM/CAM, EDM/PDM, PLM and Collaborative Engineering, including hardware and infrastructure components. Particular attention is dedicated to authentic user experience and return on investment aspects. For more information about CAD CAM magazine please visit: www.cad-cam.de (website in German language).
About MSC.Software Corporation
MSC.Software (NYSE: MNS) is the leading global provider of virtual product development (VPD) products, including simulation software and services, that helps companies make money, save time and reduce costs associated with designing and testing manufactured products. MSC.Software works with thousands of companies in hundreds of industries to develop better products faster by utilizing information technology, software, services and systems. MSC.Software employs more than 1400 people in 22 countries. For additional information about MSC.Software's products and services, please visit www.mscsoftware.com.
| Contact: Catherine Meek Media Relations MSC.Software 714.445.5647 catherine.meek@mscsoftware.com |
