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From CAD User Mechanical Magazine  Vol 22 No 4 - APRIL/MAY 2009

Will rules-based design be the next big thing?, asks Colin Watson of Imass Design Solutions Ltd

Once again, the manufacturing industry is looking for ways to survive in hostile economic conditions. Yes, we've all been here before - some of us several times. However, before there was always a little extra that could be trimmed here, some duplication there - now everything is so lean, pared and automated that there are few avenues left to explore for those wanting to steal a march on competitors.

Consequently, when Autodesk announced late in 2008 that it was to acquire the iLogic software and related technology from the Canadian firm Logimetrix, Inc, the industry pricked up its ears. iLogic is Logimetrix's desktop rules-based design automation technology. If design automation is to be pushed any further, rules-based systems are the next logical step. Autodesk is known for taking new technologies into the mainstream and now all the signs are there that, at some stage, part or all of technology will be incorporated into Inventor. However, the software already integrates with Inventor seamlessly - and fast ROI, conceivably within weeks, means that rules-driven design could prove a wily investment for those prepared to innovate in order to survive.

For some time now, there has been a major emphasis on streamlining the design to production workflow including the seamless transfer of data between processes. Now this latest move signals a step in the other direction to consider how to capture design intent and automate common design tasks. This isn't totally new territory for Autodesk. Its acquisition of the Engineering Intent Corporation and subsequent development of Autodesk Intent was a first step. As yet, it's not all that apparent where the two products will both sit in the Autodesk hierarchy. However, Autodesk's acquisition is a signal to the industry, pointing out the potential of this type of technology, particularly when used with digital prototypes, extending their intelligence and adding to their value.

Nonetheless, rules-based design technology is still a significant upfront commitment. It involves an initial time investment to develop and capture the rules. But until recently this has only been available with a considerable overhead, as it usually involves expensive mainstream business or IT consultants.

Solutions such as iLogic are lighter and more straightforward. Choose a reseller with the appropriate skills and experience and they may well be able to act as a far more cost-effective consultant.

Once the solution is deployed, return on both hard and soft costs should be swift. When processes that would otherwise have taken two or three days can be done in seconds, ROI can be counted in weeks rather than years. So, if this is beginning to sound an attractive option, what type of product can benefit from rules-based automation? Traditionally, the answer to this would be any high-volume product which uses a consistent families of components. However, volume is not necessarily an issue, as long as most of the geometry is always the same. Mass customisation, we are told, is the next big thing - and this is certainly the way to achieve it as efficiently as possible. Consequently, it's ideal for a manufacturer with a basic product which is often tweaked to suit the needs of the customer, opening up potential for a new era of collaboration. It's now quite possible for a designer to take their laptop to a customer's office, show them a digital prototype of the basic product and sit and refine the design as the customer provides their own input. But working this way is fine if you are selling large, high-value products and you can afford to send out design engineers as part of the sales team. This may only be viable if you are fairly certain of a sale and - depending on your products - it may not be worth doing if there is only a slim chance of an order at the end. However, rules-based design opens up new possibilities. Before, it could be difficult for a sales person with limited engineering knowledge to gather all the correct information at the point of sale. This is something of a danger zone as the future of the product - and often its price - is fixed at this point. If the person responsible doesn't have the right knowledge, you may end up losing money on the sale.

However, rules set the parameters and can enable a sales team to achieve pre-approved designs and combinations in the field. And when bespoke orders are place, customers can be shown on screen exactly what they are getting, before it is actually made.

As a result, sales cycles are significantly reduced - and orders achieved with only a single sales call. Not only does working this way minimise delivery times, but it also reduces costs as design time is shorter. No one would suggest that rulesbased design, such as that made possible by using iLogic with Inventor, is suitable for all manufacturers. Or indeed, that it is the answer to all their current woes. However, for an operation that does have the business, but is reluctant to commit to expansion in staff numbers too soon, it provides a way to significantly improve productivity, whilst maintaining a consistently high quality throughout. It's a window of opportunity to get ahead of the game. A study by the analyst firm, the Aberdeen Group, shows that 52 per cent of Best-in-Class manufacturers are looking for a more effective means of creating, capturing and re-using product knowledge as a way to increase revenue while still controlling costs. This could be what they've been searching for.

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