This presentation was originally given by Dr. Nicholas Veikos, President of CAE Associates, at the NAFEMS Regional Summit 2008: The 2020 Vision of Engineering Analysis and Simulation. The presentation discussed Simulation Training Challenges in the 2020 Workplace. To view this presentation in its entirety, please click on the Download Now! link below.
The Simulation Landscape is changing and requirements are much more complex while Simulation software is becoming easier to use. That said, training is still necessary because a small error in the input, approach or assumptions can result in a large error in the solution.
Students themselves are also changing; transitioning from those with a basic understanding of what is happening “under the hood” of the code and are familiar with theory, to those who just want to know how to use the software. Both students and management are expecting to leave a general training class as an expert analyst. This expectation is unrealistic.
Customized training and mentoring is a great way to meet in the middle, training the engineer in a solving a specific problem or class of problems – making them well versed a specific application and thus able to get the analyses done right away, eliminating the significant amount of general training required to achieve the same level of knowledge.
Simulation training will be more important than ever in the years to come. Simulation software is improving its robustness, but the complexity of problems that engineers are trying to solve is outpacing this effort.
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