The interest in more local and European manufacturing is not new for several reasons. Besides obvious political and ideological drivers, manufacturers have seen big swings in transportation costs and supply chain disruptions during the past years. Meanwhile, China’s labor cost has risen, along with Western awareness of sustainability and social responsibility. As a result, some appliance manufacturers are considering relocating their manufacturing back to Europe, where they’ll benefit from higher standards, closer proximity to customers, and more stable political and legal systems.

As you navigate this transition, ensuring that your product’s journey from idea to industrialization is seamless and efficient is crucial. To safeguard a consistent quality and effective operation during the industrialization phase, you’ll need a trusted partner to guide you through every production step:

• Supplier management: selecting a manufacturer with the right expertise and facilities to deliver consistent, long-term production quality.
• Manufacturer audit: through rigorous audits, potential manufacturing partners are reviewed to meet the key criteria for your project’s success.
• Testing and precertification: setting up and implementing comprehensive testing throughout the entire product development cycle, from conception to qualification, so your product meets all necessary standards before it hits the market.
• Quality and technical file: specific product specifications, work instructions, maturity grids, and validation documents will guarantee quality at every production stage. 
• Artificial intelligence and machine learning: cutting-edge technology to optimize sustainable production processes, and reduce waste and energy consumption, all while maximizing uptimes.

More and more, product and device manufacturers are showing a growing preference for EU-made components and goods. Why? It’s about avoiding the challenges often associated with ‘Made in China’ products, such as quality concerns, long shipping distances, rising travel costs, and limited control over production processes. The tips in this perspective are based on the hands-on experience of our consultants during recent projects, offering valuable insights to help manufacturers adapt to this growing trend.

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Interactive models: a blessing or a curse in disguise?

While many models can predict performance with incredible precision, the true challenge lies in optimizing them effectively. Though powerful, relying solely on human intuition and interactive interfaces may lead to inconsistent outcomes, chaotic workflows, and missed opportunities. How do you ensure you’re not only finding the ‘best’ solution but exploring the full spectrum of possibilities? The answer lies in embracing PIDO, where rigorous tools take over and guide you through even the most complex parameter landscapes—revealing insights beyond the obvious.

Model interaction is only possible if an interface is in place. The most engaging type is a fully interactive graphical user interface (GUI) linked directly to the model. Typically, there are fields for input parameters and outputs. You can make adjustments, click some buttons, and inspect the matching results generated by the model.

At Verhaert, we’ve developed many such models where interactivity allows users to freely explore and adjust parameters as quickly as new concepts emerge. However, the downside is that the optimization control is in the hands of human intuition, leading to a chaotic process, often where repeated trials yield different results. Thus, while interactivity can be a blessing, it can also be a curse for rigorous optimization crucial for informed business decisions.

So remember: optimization is a rigorous task best left to accurate programs. The most crucial feature of your model isn’t a flashy GUI, but a modest scripting interface that another program can control.

One tool to rule them all

Programs that utilize this scripting interface for design exploration and optimization are referred to as PIDO (Process Integration and Design Optimization) tools. These programs operate at a meta-level and perform three core tasks:

1. Systematically varying parameters within a user-defined parameter space.
2. Running an external model (or a chain of models) using these parameters.
3. Saving the results of each run in a structured manner.

For example, Excel’s “scenario manager” and “data table” functions allow you to evaluate functions across different cases and summarize the results in a table.

Dedicated PIDO packages such as optiSLang (Ansys), HEEDS (Siemens), Isight (Simulia), and Optimus (3rd party) offer even more advanced features handling everything from spreadsheets and Matlab scripts to finite element (FE) simulations or a combination of them. These packages also come with optimization algorithms and extensive data visualization suites right out of the box.

If you would rather have full control in developing a PIDO script, you can quickly assemble it in Python using open-source libraries. Our recommended libraries include:

• Systematically varying parameters and saving the results: psweep or pypet
• Interfacing with models written in other programs: Python Subprocess
• Optimizing objective functions: DEAP (evolutionary)
• Visualizing data: matplotlib or seaborn (mostly static) / Plotly (interactive)

Once created, a custom PIDO script can be reused for any model with minimal modifications.

In short, if your model has a scripting interface, PIDO software can leverage it to optimize designs with minimal manual input. If you have a license for FE software, chances are a PIDO program comes prepackaged with it; and if you don’t, it’s easy to cook up in a language like Python. So why not give it a try? 

The post ‘Pareto Front’ and beyond: discovering the art of smart simulation & modeling appeared first on Verhaert Masters in Innovation.

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The traditional role of product designers

The traditional role of product designers and developers is undergoing a profound transformation in the wake of generative AI’s surge. As we delve into 2023, professionals worldwide are wrestling with how to leverage new toolchains to enhance their value proposition. McKinsey wrote an article in 2020 about ‘how generative design could reshape the future of product development’, indicating more than anything else that most consultants were underestimating the potential of this new technology.

At the core of product design lies the principle of human-centered design, a cornerstone of the design thinking methodology. It’s about getting into the users’ shoes and seeing the world from their perspective. Yet, reaching and understanding certain customers can prove challenging. For some in the B2B ecosystem, the challenge is even bigger.

Another major archetypical blueprint in the design process is the double diamond (Discover – Define – Develop – Deliver), mostly in combination with portfolio management and stage-gated governance. Leading companies have been optimizing their development processes to implement agile PM principles to increase speed to insight and speed to market.

With the surge of generative AI, the window of competitive advantage is rapidly narrowing. It’s time for product developers and innovators to seize the opportunity and embrace this transformative technology. By harnessing the power of generative AI, professionals can streamline their processes, accelerate innovation, and gain a decisive edge in the marketplace.

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The post Leading GenAI tools for innovation from start to finish appeared first on Verhaert Masters in Innovation.

Charles H. Green’s Trust Equation, denoted as (C + R + I )/ E, offers a powerful framework for understanding and building trust within an organization. Let’s delve into this formula:

C – Credibility
Credibility involves aligning words and actions. It’s the trustworthiness that comes from keeping promises and delivering on commitments. In the context of innovation, it means that when an organization says it will support and nurture innovative ideas, it does exactly that.

R – Reliability
Reliability focuses on the consistency and dependability of an organization, ensuring that when a course of action is committed to, it will be followed through consistently. For innovation culture to thrive, reliability assures employees that their ideas will be given fair consideration and support.

I – Intimacy
Intimacy creates a safe space where individuals can share ideas without fear of embarrassment or ridicule. It fosters open and honest communication, encouraging employees to freely express their thoughts and creativity in the context of innovation.

E – Ego
Ego reflects the organization’s focus. Is it primarily self-centered, obsessed with its own success, or does it genuinely prioritize the well-being and growth of its employees and customers? In an innovative culture, the organization’s ego should revolve around fostering an environment where contributors thrive.

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By leveraging the power of the Internet of Things, smart devices can revolutionize the way we interact with everyday household items. Moreover, the integration of artificial intelligence opens up a realm of new possibilities, providing valuable insights for users and manufacturers alike. The best and most efficient way for such cases is to connect them to a platform that acts as a one-stop shop for all stakeholders involved. In this perspective, we will delve into the digital innovation possibilities brought by connected devices, how they can create added value for all stakeholders involved, and how you can go the extra mile to differentiate from other brands and create loyal customers. Ready to take your rightful place of being the #1 provider in your product market?

The post The untapped innovation potential of connected appliances & AI appeared first on Verhaert Masters in Innovation.

The post The untapped innovation potential of connected appliances & AI appeared first on Verhaert Masters in Innovation.

The learner engagement equation is a powerful framework that encourages learners to absorb new skills and knowledge and retain them for the long term. Let’s dive into each component of the equation and see how it can improve the way we deliver training:

I – Me, the self
This represents the individual learner receiving the training. What’s in it for them? When learners understand the personal or organizational value of the training, they become more motivated and engaged

F – First impression
Just as first impressions are crucial in personal interactions, they matter in training too. A positive initial experience sets the tone for the entire training program. If learners perceive the training as relevant and beneficial from the start, they’re more likely to stay engaged.

The post The learner engagement equation appeared first on Verhaert Masters in Innovation.

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This article explores the transformative power of innovative software development on user experiences and business expansion. Get ready to dive deep into frontend and backend development, the art of crafting captivating UI/UX experiences, the integration of emerging technologies, and the never-ending pursuit of perfection through continuous improvement. If you’ve ever pondered these questions, you’re in the right place.

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The post Overcoming 15 bottlenecks in software development appeared first on Verhaert Masters in Innovation.

Room for improvement

Although minimally-invasive surgery offers many benefits, there’s still quite some room for improvement. To start, the current procedure requires X-ray imaging for localization inside the patient. This not only leads to frequent radiation exposure for everyone in the operating room, it also provides limited 2D visibility. On top of that, it also means the slightest movement, whether through patient breathing, body movement or repositioning by the surgeon, makes the images outdated. In short, radiation exposure, precision, visibility and real-time validity could all be improved.

Or check out the key features in the video below!

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The post Wave energy: the new frontier of renewable energy? appeared first on Verhaert Masters in Innovation.

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The post Business solutions 2050: Embracing the circular economy appeared first on Verhaert Masters in Innovation.