The American Institute of Architects (AIA) recently announced 16 projects for its annual Architecture Awards. A seven-person jury selected the projects based on the AIA’s Framework for Design Excellence guidelines.

While the visual design always factors in, the AIA has created 10 principles to help jurors assess the projects. Although not all need to be met, the general scope of submitted projects—large and small and different sizes and uses—must strive to further boost architecture designed with equitable, healthy, resilient and zero-carbon build environments in mind.

Many of the 2023 award winners highly focused on sustainability efforts. The incorporation of BIM and other software available has allowed these firms to take their projects to new heights from finish to end. BIM tools make it easier to develop an energy model analysis to minimize the carbon footprint during the design phase and future operational efficiency.  

Below are six highlights of this year’s winner, which showcase how embracing new technologies gives the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry new possibilities in design.

University of Washington, Life Sciences Building — Perkins&Will

(Image courtesy of Perkins&Will.)

“With its prominence on the University of Washington campus, this project has become a shining example of our firm’s design ethos Living Design not only for practicing architects but also the students who experience it daily—inspiring our next generation of leaders in the built and natural environment,” said Devin Kleiner, Perkins&Will associate principal and project architect.

UW needed a science facility that reflected the fusion of nature and technology. This 207,000-square-foot structure needed to have the versatility to accommodate different power usage, temperatures and humidity levels that the varying departments needed. Replacing two old buildings, the new structure’s southern exterior captures the technology aspect with glass, metal and solar fins while the northern exterior highlights the beauty of nature with natural wood and a visual connection to the outdoors. For both collaboration and bringing the outside in, both ends connect via a 1,000-square-foot glass atrium.

The Perkins&Will design team also worked with the students from UM Solar to create custom-made building integrated photovoltaics (BIVs), a first of their kind. These panels minimize unwanted solar heat gain while producing enough electricity on the 12,400 square feet of offices on all four floors throughout the year.

633 Folsom — Gensler

(Image courtesy of Gensler.)

As a company that has been at the forefront of incorporating BIM, 3D rendering and visualization tools, such as SketchUp, Rhino and Revit, to streamline projects, those tools came in handy while developing the reuse project at 633 Folsom in San Francisco.

The current owner wanted to update the building, which was constructed in 1967, to reflect the modern workforce and landscape, as well as make it more sustainable and human-friendly. Using computational modeling, the design team was able to design and properly orient a façade to optimize and work with natural daylight. On the inside, fiber-reinforced polymer shades, which the people on the inside barely notice, shift to provide low light on the interior and a unique aesthetic on the exterior.

Since the existing concrete structure was not demolished but instead preserved and reinforced, the design was able to use 28.8 percent less CO₂. Additionally, the design team tested and modeled different high-efficiency mechanical elements to achieve an Energy Use Intensity (EUI) of 24.7.

Worcester Blackstone Visitor Center — designLAB Architects

(Image courtesy of designLAB Architects.)

Turning a former wire rope mill into a welcoming community center became an even more complex endeavor after a fire destroyed the existing structure, forcing the design team to create a new radical redesign just before construction was set to begin.

designLAB Architects used its expertise and technology toolkit to meet that challenge, creating a personable and environmentally facility that now sees more than 100 visitors a day. Although initially a reuse site, the firm was able to incorporate various recycled materials from other reclaimed mill buildings, such as bricks and timber.

The exterior has wire sun screens that can be moved on the interior, giving the facility extra daylight when needed while reducing solar heat gain in warmer temperatures. The structure uses a pellet boiler for heat, a renewable energy source, and features a photovoltaic array system that also serves as the pavilion’s roof.

Mukilteo Multimodal Ferry Terminal — LMN Architects

(Image courtesy of LMN Architects.)

Steeped in history as the location of the signing of the 1855 Point Elliott Treaty by 30 different Indian tribes in the Puget Sound area, the new ferry terminal now provides enhanced safety and infrastructure to a route with 4 million riders and 2 million vehicles every year.

Knowing that ridership was set to increase in the next two decades, revitalization was necessary. Along with sticking to historical roots, such as incorporating Native American cultures, the new structure features numerous sustainability elements.

LEED Gold-certified, the terminal was designed to meet earthquake preparedness standards. It features photovoltaic panels that provide 40 percent of the structure’s needed electricity and has a concrete slab with efficient electric heat pumps for colder months and rack-and-pinion windows that are thermostatically controlled to ensure excellent airflow.

Marlboro Music Reich Rehearsal Building & Music Library — HGA

(Image courtesy of HGA.)

While acoustics in any building are important, that becomes even more vital for a legendary location for musicians to practice and perform. Generative design offers a key way to ensure the architecture delivers that sound. It allows designers to create a prototype that can be used with scripts to land on the exact geometry required for a roof and ceiling designed for optimal sound performance.

Along with the music portion, the facility needed to create a community-like atmosphere able to change with the varying temperatures and natural resources found in Vermont. Although the facility has a low-tech aesthetic with a Cape Cod cottage vibe, it is infused with the latest tech and the latest stability elements.

To accommodate all four seasons, the hall was built with low-maintenance, low/no-VOC content materials certified to be environmentally friendly and durable. In addition to cost-effective LED lighting, the facility features a passive solar gain system and a green roof. The windows allow for natural light to enter while providing thermal control and ventilation. Geothermal water-to-water heat pumps simultaneously deliver the right temperature of water to the fan coil system and radiant heat flooring.

“Working with Marlboro Music once again has been a true honor,” said Joan Soranno, HGA designer. “Reich Hall’s architecture embodies the intrinsic link between music and space, and the universal impulse to use both to create a sense of rootedness within nature. The celebration of music, creativity, and community that happens across campus and in and around these new buildings is a joy to experience.”

Check out all of the 2023 award recipients here.

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After reaching a record-breaking Q2 FY23, Autodesk stayed on that trajectory for the remainder of the year. The fourth quarter saw a 9 percent increase over the third quarter while the company finished out FY23 with total revenue of $5.0 billion, a 14% increase over 2022 results.

“Overall, the demand environment in Q4 remained consistent with Q3 with the approaching transition from up-front to annual billings for multi-year contracts and a large renewal cohort, providing a tailwind to billings and free cash flow,” said Debbie Clifford, Autodesk CFO. “We continue to develop broader strategic partnerships with our customers, closing our largest deal to date during the quarter. Our strong momentum and competitive performance set us up well for fiscal 24.”

Three key areas that saw increases in both the last quarter and end-of-year results were Design, Make and Subscription businesses. Design—including AutoCAD, Revit, Inventor and Maya—saw a quarterly increase of 13 percent and an annual increase of 9 percent, accounting for $1.11 billion of 2023 revenue. Those numbers fall in line with the rising use of software in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry, which accounted for $2.78 billion of Autodesk’s business in FY23.

Falling in line with the latest trends, the Make business—including Fusion 360, ShotGrid, Autodesk Build and BuildingConnected—soared to new levels. As 3D CAD software is expected to reach $13.5 billion by 2026, it comes as no surprise that Autodesk’s Make revenue for the fourth quarter was $119 million, a 20 percent increase. Overall, the Make revenue increased by 24 percent for the year, compared to 2022.

Since the company moved to subscription-based plans, it has seen a significant rise in revenue. The ability to have flexibility and access to software from different devices anytime and anywhere has made it possible for small- and medium-sized businesses to use different software. Total subscriptions climbed from 702,000 in FY2022 to 6.74 million for FY2023.

While a number of factors play into the increased revenue, the focus on innovation and bringing in other technologies have allowed Autodesk to provide customers with many more offerings with better usability. To further push the boundaries of digital manufacturing, Autodesk has had several acquisitions over the past few years, such as ProdSmart.

Always focused on building its AEC offerings, the company is in the works to acquire UNIFI, a cloud software solution. The deal, expected to close by July 31, will enable customers to more easily organize and manage digital assets while loading BIM content quicker than ever.

“As we deliver next-generation technology and services to our customers, the pace of transformation within and between the industries we serve will accelerate, generating large new growth opportunities for Autodesk,” said Andrew Anagnost, Autodesk president and CEO. “We started seeing the shift toward connected digital workflows in the cloud in product design and manufacturing, then in architecture, followed by building engineering and more recently construction. And we are now seeing growing momentum with owners.”

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In a show of faith, PTC’s board of directors announced that they will renew Jim Heppelmann’s contract as CEO for three years.

“Over the last 12 years under Jim’s visionary leadership, PTC has evolved and transformed by establishing category leadership in the product lifecycle management (PLM) market, broadening and deepening its industry-leading technology portfolio, transitioning to a subscription business model, and pioneering the SaaS transformation of our industry,” said Bob Schechter, PTC’s chairman of the board. “This incredible transformation significantly accelerated top-line growth while dramatically increasing profitability, resulting in a six-fold expansion in enterprise value. We look forward to Jim’s continued leadership of PTC as the company continues its SaaS transformation and pursues its vision for closed-loop PLM.”

Heppelmann took on the role of CEO in 2010, which was a ripe time for innovation and incorporating new technologies. Within five years of taking the position, he was pushing for ways to incorporate the Internet of Things (IoT) into the fold to make its software easier than ever.

After rolling out four IoT software solutions in 2015, Heppelmann helped lead the company toward software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions. Rival companies were quick to follow suit. PTC continues to place SaaS as a main initiative.

Along with being a driving force for developing and embracing technologies that provide users with easier workflows, Heppelmann’s input has resulted in a number of acquisitions over the past decade that have taken PTC to new heights, including Onshape in 2019, Arena Solutions in 2020 and ServiceMax in 2022.

Heppelmann serves on Sensata Technologies’ board of directors as a member, where he is in the midst of a two-year term as a Sensata board member, and is currently serving a two-year, cochair role on the Massachusetts Technology Leadership Council. He also continues to participate with his alma mater by serving on the dean’s advisory board at the University of Minnesota College of Science & Engineering and on the executive advisory board of For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST).

Heppelmann expressed his gratitude and gave congratulations to Mike DiTullio. The former president of PTC’s Digital Thread group will now serve as president and chief operating officer as well as provide oversight of PTC’s Velocity group.

“I’m glad to have Mike at my side as we continue pursuing our initiatives focused on delivering customer value and further accelerating growth and expanding profitability,” Heppelmann said. “Mike has been one of PTC’s top executives for many years and has been a close partner to me every step of the way as we have transformed the company into what it is today. Mike is respected across the company and industry due to his experience leading global sales and both the Velocity and Digital Thread groups. I congratulate Mike and look forward to working with him in this expanded role.”

DiTullio has been with the company for more than 20 years. He has held numerous roles throughout his career and was one of the key drivers behind PTC’s move to a subscription-based model. He also serves on the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) board of directors.

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While 3D CAD software developers knew they were onto something in the 1990s, they may not have suspected just how big the industry would become. Recently released global market research indicates that the industry was at $10.1 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach $13.54 billion by 2026.

North America continued to hold the top spot of market revenue share at 32.6 percent. Research indicates that the trend will likely continue due to a number of factors, including the higher number of providers and the expansion of software usage into new segments, including health care, research and entertainment. The Asia Pacific region has the fastest CAGR (compound annual growth rate), while the Middle East and Africa region has seen a steady rise, especially in the oil and gas industry.

Many factors play into the growth of 3D CAD software. One driving force is the automotive industry. From design to prototyping, streamlining workflows and being able to make changes before it’s too late have made 3D software a cost-effective solution. Packaging has also seen a rise in 3D CAD usage. With a focus on efficiency, this software enables businesses to create complex designs that have a positive effect on the bottom line.

Health care has also seen an uptick in usage thanks to the ability to make 3D models from medical images for things such as implants and is expected to be the fastest-growing segment. Close behind is architecture, engineering and construction (AEC). 3D CAD software enables the production of complex and detailed design fragments. With more focus on sustainability and smart housing, this software is playing a key role in creating the buildings of the future.

Along with increasing demand from different industries and companies large and small, the rise of the cloud and other advances in technology have solidified the efficiency of using 3D CAD software.

Perhaps another side effect of the COVID-19 pandemic is that businesses across industries were forced to look for new solutions to keep moving forward. The evolution of cloud-based platforms became a solution for many. It provided the ability to collaborate with necessary parties—from designers to stakeholders—without the added costs and time to set up processes. The benefits of simulation to optimize the design process have likely influenced this segment’s projected CAGR of 11 percent from 2021 to 2028.

From 3D scanning to virtual reality (VR) the Internet of Things (IoT) and more, technological innovations have made 3D CAD software more than just a tool for design. While once used only for new parts, companies have started to incorporate other technologies into their CAD software, such as scan-to-CAD applications, which provides a way to get the necessary data on an old part for recreation.

This mingling of technologies may be especially important for the manufacturing industry, which often relies on older equipment to get the job done. Manufacturing held the largest revenue share in 2020 at 24.5 percent and is expected to continue that trajectory.

Lastly, 3D CAD software was once an expensive investment that often came in a one-size-fits-all option, which may have kept some companies from making the leap. Many software developers have moved to a subscription-based model, which allows small companies with leaner budgets to enjoy the benefits of the software. As for larger companies, the top software developers now offer customized solutions.

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To gamers, Epic Games is often synonymous with Fortnite. To many people in aerospace, automotive, manufacturing and architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industries, Unreal Engine comes to mind. As the company continues to make its mark in industrial design applications, it has made the switch to Tech Soft 3D’s HOOPS Exchange to enhance and ease CAD data for visualization.

While Unreal Engine, a real-time 3D software platform, has been around since 1998, advances in augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR) and virtual reality (VR) outside of gaming created a new door of opportunity. It then created Unreal Studio, a suite of tools for importing CAD, which has led to Unreal Engine being used for everything from designing a manufacturing floor to fueling the HMI development.

Entering new markets also came with finding solutions to new problems. One of the biggest Unreal Engine faced was importing CAD data, which was historically not interactive. The company created tools, called Datasmith, to enable importing complex assemblies or pre-constructed scenes through an SDK data translation vendor. While it streamlined CAD data, it had limitations regarding file formats and design applications.

The move to HOOPS Exchange opened the door to more than 30 CAD formats, including CATIA, Revit and SOLIDWORKS, using a single API. Used by major companies, including Autodesk and Siemens, Hoops Exchange provides software libraries that allow users to use 2D and 3D formats. It reads and converts 3D data into a PRC format that is easy for anyone to use. PRC files feature the defined geometric entities for different mechanical CAD systems, which are stored in the original form. That means not having to worry about lost accuracy or precision. The files are also highly compressible, often 100 times smaller than original CAD files.

Hoops Exchange not only aids developers with 3D visualization but also makes dealing with dense and overwhelming data easier. Whether dealing with parts, topological structures or markup data, it lets software developers enhance workflows from archiving to modeling and visualization.

For Unreal Engine, the latter was especially important. With more people working off-site yet still needing easy ways to collaborate, virtual workflows have become much more mainstream, including the increase of VR. When working on complex projects, the ability to get immersed in the project in real-time enables finding and correcting issues in the design process easier. On the tail-end of a project, marketing teams can have access to the data to create review material and easily obtain imagery.

Epic Games recently released Unreal Engine 5.1. Thanks, in part, to moving to HOOPS Exchange, the company boasts that newest release is more robust and versatile. The new release has a plethora of new and updated features.

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“As CAD data gets larger and larger, the kind of intelligent model simplification and remeshing that is provided by CADfix PPS and Viz is an important piece of the puzzle in many areas, in particular around digital twin workflows,” said Guido Hoffmann, technical fellow, Tech Soft 3D. “It’s great that through our Integration Partner Program, HOOPS users can now easily integrate this powerful technology into their applications.”

CADfix PPS

Plant and process layouts inherently contain numerous complex machine and equipment models, which typically contain a high level of detail, thus making the overall file size much larger than what typical plant and process design software can efficiently handle. The detail required to build a machine or piece of equipment is much greater than the level of detail required when designing overall layouts of machines and equipment and their layouts within a facility.

CADfix PPS enables designers to easily and quickly simplify large CAD assemblies for more efficient integration into their plant design systems by generating lightweight simplified versions of CAD models, helping to meet the demands of downstream applications, where the full detail of the mechanical CAD model is not required but the layout is needed for visualization, positioning and packaging. CADfix PPS can significantly reduce model file size and complexity while retaining the key features of the source CAD model.

The simplification of these models in CADfix PPS can be done manually or by using the simplification wizard, which helps automate the process. This gives HOOPS platform users and developers the ability to apply the advanced, automated CADfix PPS model simplification and detail reduction tools to complex mechanical CAD models. The model helps remove small parts and internal details that can increase file size, such as fasteners and small details like threads and fillets and other small parts that are unnecessary for full plant layout.

An example of complex part simplification using CADfix PPS. (Image courtesy of ITI.)

CADfix Viz

Large CAD model file sizes can also negatively impact virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR) software applications. This can diminish performance on mobile devices, graphic quality and overall user experience. CAD models often require optimization to ensure successful outcomes in VR/AR/MR platforms.

The CADfix Viz CAD to mesh conversion solution helps streamline the integration process and maximize the reuse of 3D digital assets within VR/AR/MR applications. By optimizing 3D CAD models for use in these applications and increasing application interoperability, engineers save valuable time converting and repurposing complex CAD data for VR/AR/MR applications. CADfix Viz allows users and developers to automate the process of importing complex CAD models from multiple native and neutral formats, as well as remove unwanted features and internal parts, and export optimized lightweight faceted formats, helping to seamlessly repurpose CAD data for VR/AR/MR.

An example of complex model simplification using CADfix Viz. (Image courtesy of ITI.)

“We are delighted to have worked with Tech Soft 3D to deliver these CADfix integrations that will enable HOOPS users to enhance their digital workflows by applying automated simplification and advanced mesh generation to optimize models for heightened performance,” said Andy Chinn, ITI director. “The integration opens the way for the full range of the CADfix geometry handling and meshing technology being made available to the HOOPS user community.”

For more information on ITI’s CADfix integrations into the Tech Soft 3D HOOPS Platform, visit www.iti-global.com.

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While smart buildings have come a long way, Qualcomm Technologies and Siemens Smart Infrastructure believe it’s time to up the game. The two companies recently partnered to advance building automation with artificial intelligence (AI) and 5G.

“Joining Qualcomm Technologies’ capabilities with Siemens’ building automation domain experience creates a unique skill set that enables the creation of a very innovative offering,” said Ivan Todorov, Siemens BP Americas head of engineering at Siemens Smart Infrastructure USA. “We see 5G as a key enabler that will bring to life an ecosystem of edge devices and services to help us meet some of the most pressing customer needs around energy efficiency, cyber security and decarbonization. In times of increasing technology complexity, we see partnering as key to optimizing time-to-market and value for the customer.”

Digitalization and automated smart devices have helped overcome some challenges in regard to maintenance costs, air quality, energy efficiency, sustainability and productivity, but there are still barriers that this partnership aims to overcome. While the partnership’s goals are still a work in progress, the two companies are striving to build automation by using 5G private networks (PN).

Siemens’ role involves testing established 5G PN use cases at its Buffalo Grove, Ill., location. The tests revolve around HVAC assets using Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X55 5G Modem-RF System. Along with focusing on enhancing security and maintenance, the two hope to develop new smart devices that will pave the way for the future of building automation.

“We are proud of the collaboration with Siemens, bringing together its leadership in building automation, and our expertise in wireless and edge compute technologies,” said Sebastiano Di Filippo, Qualcomm Europe senior director, business development. “Our teams worked closely to successfully prove the automated building use case.”

The ushering in of 5G has proven a boon to advancing technologies and services. With high-speed transmissions, greater capacity and low latency, 5G offers much more than its predecessor, 4G. In creating the proof-of-concept (PoC) network architecture, Siemens has taken a broad approach to maximizing the network, including getting an experimental Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) license, to ensure the system integrates various devices, cloud-based solutions, AI platforms and more.

Also playing a role in the partnership is Wistron NeWeb Corporation (WNC). A specialist in communications products, the company’s i-Router is being used with Snapdragon X55. Repus Hsiung, WNC vice president and general manager of Automotive and Industrial Solutions BG at WNC, believes advances in 5G will enable “endless possibilities and create new industrial paradigms.”

Qualcomm, a longtime pioneer in wireless technologies and advocate for 5G adoption, unveiled the Snapdragon X55 in 2019. Considered the “first commercial modem-to-antenna 5G solution” by the company, it was developed to provide global ultrafast speeds for OEMs, enabling the creation of 5G multimode devices and ensuring 5G connectivity with any device, from mobile devices to routers and vehicles. The 5G Modem-RF offers up to 7.5 Gbps and 5G/4G spectrum and supports 5G NR Time Division Duplex (TDD) and Frequency Division Duplex (FDD), mmWave and sub-6 GHz spectrum.

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While having to scan a QR code to see a restaurant menu can be a little annoying, there is no denying the usefulness of these codes. PlanRadar, the developer of a management platform for digital construction, real estate and facilities, recently updated its platform offering with QR code functionality. The complementary addition falls in line with the company’s focus on helping companies incorporate technologies to make it easier to get real-time results and information.

“We strive to give our customers the best on-site experience, making it simple to get their day-to-day work done efficiently and correctly,” said Clemens Hammerl, chief product officer. “Linking PlanRadar to QR codes is a natural fit—reducing the time it takes to retrieve information on a project site and ensuring everything is properly documented at the precise location. QR codes and NFC tags can both be used to make a wide variety of information accessible in real-time and users can choose which format they capture and share information.”

Established in 2013, the Vienna -based company was cofounded by Domagoj Dolinsek, who had years of experience in construction management, along with Sander van de Rijdt, an established entrepreneur. While the construction industry has been slow to adopt technologies, the founders of PlanRadar see the benefits of creating cloud-based solutions for addressing communication and documentation challenges and offer their software as a competitive advantage for early tech adopters.

PlanRadar was created to be a software as a service (SaaS) field solution that enhances project management, communication and collaboration. Although suitable for use by various industries, construction companies may especially benefit from the platform’s range of offerings, which are designed to enhance every stage of the process.

The latest upgrade was added to help save time and simplify workflows. QR codes seemed a logical choice.

“QR codes and the PlanRadar app are easy to use and do not require any prior knowledge or training,” Imam said. “All you need is a mobile device. The result is a simple and cost-effective way to provide the most updated information—removing the need to replace signs on the entire construction site or in a building.”

Along with QR codes becoming more recognizable, which means more people will find making the adjustment to using them less stressful, they are also inexpensive to print and easy to install. People simply need a regular printer to print the codes which PlanRadar offers free of charge.

With the PlanRadar platform, codes can be placed in various locations on the worksite, enabling quick access to location-specific information. They can be used on anything from helping to manage deliveries to equipment maintenance and tracking or safety inspections. The user scans the code with the PlanRadar mobile app or a smartphone camera. Once scanned, the ticket information instantly opens. All information is date and time stamped, tamperproof and secure.

The platform also was designed for flexibility. It was already supporting the use of NFC tags to link to tickets. The QR addition lets users choose their preferred technology method. Whichever method is chosen, the shared, real-time information helps ensure clear documentation and allows collaborators to make quick decisions with the most up-to-date information.

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Just a few years ago, people were talking about what the smart cities of the future might look like. ASUS IoT, a Taiwan-based developer of artificial intelligence (AI) and IoT technologies and Media Broadcast, a media company and provider of 5G campus networks in Germany, are the latest to make that future happen in the present. The two companies recently announced a partnership to implement five IoT solutions in different areas of Germany.

“We share a vision of advancing AIoT technology to solve future challenges,” said Norbert Krüger, Media Broadcast senior solution and bid manager. “With the rapid development and reliable product quality that ASUS provides, together we can accelerate deployments to create modern cities.”

ASUS IoT, a subsidiary of global technology leader ASUS, has been steadily proving its expertise in helping to transform cities into smart ones. Silicon Bridge, a semiconductor and cloud technologies company, turned to Tinker Board and ASUS IoT to create a cloud-controlled parking solution for autonomous and remote management. It allows for monitoring payments and resources in real-time.

ASUS IoT has also been at the forefront of helping develop EV-charging stations that use ASUS Open Cloud Infrastructure Software (OCIS), resulting in automated license plate reader (ALPR) recognition of up to 99.99 percent for reliable automated billing. The company’s ALPR technology combines AI and a deep-learning algorithm to help identify key markers and eliminate image noise, even with only using a USB camera.

The Media Broadcast partnership will focus on five IoT solutions: AI-driven video analytics for security, smart parking, smart traffic management, waste management and smart lighting.

“We are looking forward to creating innovative solutions with Media Broadcast,” said Casper Lee, ASUS IoT regional sales director. “The core concepts focus on how to make cities more resilient, sustainable and future-proof. And the main goal is to enable data-driven decisions.”

Technology and Innovation Park Nordheide, a business area in Buchholz, Germany, near Hamburg, will be the first location to get a smart upgrade, The 61-acre location is set to become a new hub for forward-thinking companies with a desire to operate in an area focused on incorporating technology. Media Broadcast runs a standalone 5G campus network at the location.

Although the companies have not indicated the specific solutions that will be implemented, all signs point to the ASUS IoT Cloud Console (AICC) being incorporated at some point. This unified platform analyzes and manages data from IoT devices that use different operating systems. Along with allowing for data collection, it identifies failed or disconnected devices and remotely restarts a crashed application. The technology, which was launched in 2020, is often used to remotely manage traffic monitors.

Additionally, ASUS developed the “brain” for 5G smart poles in Taipei, Taiwan. These poles not only provide smart street lighting but also assist with environmental monitoring, transportation and surveillance.

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While the resurgence is ripe for the taking, and most manufacturers have confidence of growth, many factors play into that becoming reality. PTC, the software company that developed design softeware Onshape, recently released a report, The State of Product Development and Hardware Design 2022-2023, that highlights some of the main hurdles manufacturers need to overcome. Engineering.com spoke with John McEleney, PTC corporate strategy advisor and Onshape co-founder to glean highlights of the report and what manufacturers can do to prepare themselves for the future.

Navigating manufacturing challenges and inefficient processes

From troubles with supply chains to collaboration among teams or partners, the manufacturing process comes with a plethora of bumps in the road. Unfortunately, even the smallest and most trivial problem has the potential to create an exponential impact.

“The old original vision in this industry 40 years ago was if I get everybody in my company and everybody in my supply chain through the different tiers working on the same CAD system, we can have all the same data, and we can all share and communicate much easier,” McEleney said. “That sounds wonderful until you realize that the supplier you’re using also does work for another company, and that other company may use a different CAD system. You can’t ask the supplier to have five or six different CAD systems. We’ve got these high-fidelity models, yet people are using a low-fidelity communication mechanism.”

While technologies are available to improve efficiencies, it often leads to what McEleney refers to as a versioning problem. For example, a plastic molded injection manufacturer may receive a quote. After sending a quote and receiving the job, what happens if the file is actually the prototype version instead of the latest version? Proprietary information also factors into the equation. If a quote is sent to multiple suppliers, it may include vital information. Once a supplier is chosen, it’s not always possible to recall or remove access to that information or a guarantee that the supplier will destroy it.

These issues also arise within the engineering and design team. A minor change to tolerances on a part in one version may easily go unnoticed. In the end, it means making the wrong part, which means inefficient use of time, materials and money. For the latter, that can start to add up to billions of dollars.

“We have these great tools that allow people to define digitally what they’re trying to build with, literal accuracy to six decimal places, and the parts can be machined directly off of the CAD files,” McEleney said. “The reality is that people are sending engineering drawings that are often photocopies, faxes and PDFs, or it might be just one section of a drawing.”

Moving to a cloud-based system offers a way to eliminate those costly mistakes and ensure that everyone has access to the same, most current file.

“We took a different approach when we started Onshape,” McEleney said. “We wanted to allow people to have access to one CAD system in the cloud. There’s only one version, so there’s no issue with incompatibility. When you have a cloud-based type of system, you can place restrictions. In the end, the data is actually residing in the cloud, and you’re giving people a link to gain access to that. Once you award vendor A, you can remove vendor B and vendor C in terms of having access.”

Finding Skilled Workers and Retaining Them

In the report, 64 percent of companies said they struggled with finding suitable candidates. Even if they did, keeping them is becoming more difficult. While it might seem like media hype, the “Great Resignation” and “Quiet Quitting” are very real. In the aftermath of the pandemic, a massive number of people quit their jobs. In many cases, the reason was for enhanced work-life balance. For the latter, burned-out employees are clocking in but only putting in the minimum amount of effort.

Seeking a better work-life balance

Another phenomenon associated with the pandemic is remote worker backlash. As the world shifted to remote working, people proved that it was possible to be efficient from anywhere. Now that many companies are reopening, many of those employees are resisting a forced return and looking for other options to stay at home.

During hiring, finding and connecting with the right applicants has been an ongoing problem. From unqualified people to a tight market, the challenge only increases for jobs that require people to work onsite. While money is a factor, other factors that are keeping people away include office politics, work-life balance, access to the latest technology and having their voices heard.

Although there is no one solution for this problem, automation and digitization are providing key solutions when it comes to getting skilled employees. According to McKinsey research, physical and manual tasks will fall by 27 percent by 2030. Instead of focusing on new hires, many companies have seen the benefits of upskilling current employees.

Wasting Time

When companies do have the right people in the right place, they need to ask, “Are we using current employees to their full ability?” In many cases, the answer is no. According to the Onshape survey, design engineers spend one-third of the year working on non-design tasks.

“It’s such a challenge to find qualified good people and to think that good, qualified people inside your organization are just wasting time, it’s very frustrating as an industry,” McEleney said. “I don’t think people really understood necessarily how much time they were wasting trying to do just everyday tasks. We’ve taken a great step forward with Onshape in terms of the things that we’ve done. As people are adopting it, they’re seeing a lot of those times compressed. But the reality is, looking for a CAD file or looking for the right information to send to people should have been yesterday’s problem and it’s still not.”

To put that in numbers, “with a minimum investment of $100,000 per hardware engineer (not including benefits), losing one-third of their design time amounts to $33,000-plus

in productivity losses per engineer per year.” While interruptions rank high, software inefficiencies play a major role in time usage.

So what are the 12.3 wasted hours a week spent on?

• 4.6 hours on status updates/team meetings that could have been chats or emails
• 3.4 hours Locating, accessing and communicating the correct CAD information
• 2.8 hours dealing with CAD software stability, reliability, versioning or performance
• 1.9 hours on the administration of CAD software, integrations, hardware and licensing

During the conceptual stage, an engineering team is taking in information from an array of people, from the customer to the marketing department while also factoring in costs and manufacturability. This creates a potential eye of the storm for version mania, miscommunication and ensuring all feedback is entered into the 3D model. Even for a small company that doesn’t have to worry about collaboration, getting to the final design has step after step, from the engineer taking snapshots to the product manager creating a PowerPoint to a person creating the documentation.

“Up until now, these tools have been very difficult to use,” McEleney said. “So the engineering team had to go and spend their valuable time going and basically taking and rearranging pixels on the screen. We’ve made it simpler now with the ability to share and control things. Essentially, you’re allowing engineers to go and make it much more self-service to the rest of the organization. We’re, we’re making it much easier for people to allow others to, to do self-service and, and access and get what they want and get what they need.”

While the U.S. may be on the cusp of retaking its place as a global manufacturing leader, manufacturers need to step out of conventional thinking.

“The findings [in this report], some of them were surprising, but some of them were reinforcing things that we’ve observed,” McEleney said. “Honestly, they’ve been solutions or issues that have been kind of brewing in the industry for a long time. Some of the solutions are very difficult to build and take a long time to build, but some of it’s also why we started Onshape.”

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