New Features for Optimal DOE, Discrete Parameters, Robustness and Reliability
LMS announces the release of Rev 4.0 of LMS OPTIMUS, a software environment for multidisciplinary process integration and design-space exploration in the Digital Enterprise. LMS OPTIMUS empowers the intuitive capturing and automation of any data or simulation-based design process. Design drivers, such as Design-Of-Experiments (DOE), multidisciplinary design optimization and quality-engineering techniques, give more insight in the behavior of designs and provide better and higher-quality designs faster than before. The enhancements now available in LMS OPTIMUS Rev 4.0 include mixed-integer programming, optimal DOE and robustness and reliability capabilities. With the additions, LMS answers industry needs for exercising greater control over experimentation, for finding the best design options quickly, and for having increased confidence in product design.
Mixed-integer programming
The new mixed-integer programming feature makes it easy to include discrete design parameters, integers and real values in industrial optimization problems. To illustrate how this works, take the example of sheet metal used for making cars. The metal is available only in certain thicknesses – so to include any value other than a manufactured thickness in an optimization is meaningless. Using real values saves the time and cost of running the calculation for every possible thickness. In case the design includes materials such as composites, the number of plies will always be an integer such as 2, 3, 4, or 5. However, another property of the composite is elasticity, which is a continuous value over a range – not a discrete unit. Mixed-integer programming enables an optimization that includes both properties.
LMS announces the release of Rev 4.0 of LMS OPTIMUS, a software environment for multidisciplinary process integration and design-space exploration in the Digital Enterprise. LMS OPTIMUS empowers the intuitive capturing and automation of any data or simulation-based design process. Design drivers, such as Design-Of-Experiments (DOE), multidisciplinary design optimization and quality-engineering techniques, give more insight in the behavior of designs and provide better and higher-quality designs faster than before. The enhancements now available in LMS OPTIMUS Rev 4.0 include mixed-integer programming, optimal DOE and robustness and reliability capabilities. With the additions, LMS answers industry needs for exercising greater control over experimentation, for finding the best design options quickly, and for having increased confidence in product design.
Mixed-integer programming
The new mixed-integer programming feature makes it easy to include discrete design parameters, integers and real values in industrial optimization problems. To illustrate how this works, take the example of sheet metal used for making cars. The metal is available only in certain thicknesses – so to include any value other than a manufactured thickness in an optimization is meaningless. Using real values saves the time and cost of running the calculation for every possible thickness. In case the design includes materials such as composites, the number of plies will always be an integer such as 2, 3, 4, or 5. However, another property of the composite is elasticity, which is a continuous value over a range – not a discrete unit. Mixed-integer programming enables an optimization that includes both properties.
Optimal DOE
Design-Of-Experiments (DOE) studies are meant to help engineers understand design sensitivities and trade-offs, and to automatically identify optimal configurations. Classical DOE determine the design alternatives using only statistical measures. Optimal DOE now allows to include constraints that limit the design space to options that make sense in regard to real-life material, usability or manufacturing constraints. This allows identifying a higher number of design improvements for the same number of experiments. Fewer experiments deliver better Response Surface Models (RSM) and produce better quality information about the design. In early industrial tests of optimal DOE, the RSM quality was increased twofold.
Robustness and reliability
Robustness and reliability assessments of candidate designs are important in achieving higher-quality products in a shorter time. The “reliability” of a design is a measure of its performance over a given time, with certain parameters. Its “robustness” is how reliable it is in relation to changes in parameters. LMS OPTIMUS Rev 4.0 allows to include the prediction of robustness and reliability in an optimization. LMS OPTIMUS now clearly shows at which point changes in parameters render the design unacceptable, even if it is optimal. The methodology enhances the already-available Monte Carlo methods.
In Rev 4.0, users will continue to enjoy the standard features of LMS OPTIMUS as well as the new mixed-integer programming, optimal design and robustness features. With Rev 4.0, users will gain better quality experimentation and increased confidence in their design.
LMS OPTIMUS is already the preferred process integration and design-space exploration tool at major manufacturers around the world, among them BMW, Bosch, Daihatsu Motor, EADS, Federal Mogul, Ford, Freightliner, GM, Kawasaki, Michelin, Olympus Optical, Opel, Philips, Ricardo, Seiko Epson, Sanyo, Snecma, Toyota and Volkswagen.
About LMS International
LMS is an engineering innovation partner for companies in the automotive, aerospace and other advanced manufacturing industries. LMS enables its customers to get better products faster to market, and to turn superior process efficiency to their strategic competitive advantage. LMS delivers a unique combination of virtual simulation software, testing systems, and engineering services. We are focused on the mission critical performance attributes in key manufacturing industries, including structural integrity, handling, safety, reliability, comfort and sound quality. Through our technology, people and over 25 years of experience, LMS has become the partner of choice for most of the leading discrete manufacturing companies worldwide. LMS, a Dassault Systèmes Gold Partner, is certified to ISO9001:2000 quality standards and operates through a network of subsidiaries and representatives in key locations around the world.
Design-Of-Experiments (DOE) studies are meant to help engineers understand design sensitivities and trade-offs, and to automatically identify optimal configurations. Classical DOE determine the design alternatives using only statistical measures. Optimal DOE now allows to include constraints that limit the design space to options that make sense in regard to real-life material, usability or manufacturing constraints. This allows identifying a higher number of design improvements for the same number of experiments. Fewer experiments deliver better Response Surface Models (RSM) and produce better quality information about the design. In early industrial tests of optimal DOE, the RSM quality was increased twofold.
Robustness and reliability
Robustness and reliability assessments of candidate designs are important in achieving higher-quality products in a shorter time. The “reliability” of a design is a measure of its performance over a given time, with certain parameters. Its “robustness” is how reliable it is in relation to changes in parameters. LMS OPTIMUS Rev 4.0 allows to include the prediction of robustness and reliability in an optimization. LMS OPTIMUS now clearly shows at which point changes in parameters render the design unacceptable, even if it is optimal. The methodology enhances the already-available Monte Carlo methods.
In Rev 4.0, users will continue to enjoy the standard features of LMS OPTIMUS as well as the new mixed-integer programming, optimal design and robustness features. With Rev 4.0, users will gain better quality experimentation and increased confidence in their design.
LMS OPTIMUS is already the preferred process integration and design-space exploration tool at major manufacturers around the world, among them BMW, Bosch, Daihatsu Motor, EADS, Federal Mogul, Ford, Freightliner, GM, Kawasaki, Michelin, Olympus Optical, Opel, Philips, Ricardo, Seiko Epson, Sanyo, Snecma, Toyota and Volkswagen.
About LMS International
LMS is an engineering innovation partner for companies in the automotive, aerospace and other advanced manufacturing industries. LMS enables its customers to get better products faster to market, and to turn superior process efficiency to their strategic competitive advantage. LMS delivers a unique combination of virtual simulation software, testing systems, and engineering services. We are focused on the mission critical performance attributes in key manufacturing industries, including structural integrity, handling, safety, reliability, comfort and sound quality. Through our technology, people and over 25 years of experience, LMS has become the partner of choice for most of the leading discrete manufacturing companies worldwide. LMS, a Dassault Systèmes Gold Partner, is certified to ISO9001:2000 quality standards and operates through a network of subsidiaries and representatives in key locations around the world.
