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Release Date: 20th September 2004 Warwick Manufacturing Group includes Icona’s aesthetica™ software in Premier Automotive Research & Development (PARD) Programme.Icona's manufacturing variation simulation and visualisation tools could help premium car component suppliers set and validate production quality targets. Manchester, UK. 22 September, 2005. - Icona Solutions Ltd., the developer of the aestheticaT software solution for visually simulating the effects of automotive component and assembly variation and component deformation in assemblies during the production process, has announced that Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) has selected aesthetica™ for use in a project within the Premier Automotive Research & Development (PARD) Programme currently under way at WMG's International Automotive Research Centre in the UK. Icona's aesthetica™ software was selected for use in one of the five work streams that make up a current PARD project investigating the use of advanced simulation tools in automotive design and manufacturing. Like all PARD projects, its aim is to develop expertise and processes and to then embed these in the working practices of automotive industry suppliers in the UK's manufacturing heartland in the West Midlands. Specifically, aesthetica™ was selected for work on using simulation tools to predict the level of variability likely to occur in a manufacturer's production systems and to enable the manufacturer to develop its production processes in order to deliver the high levels of quality demanded within the premium automotive sector. In addition, aesthetica™ will be used in work designed to enable targets for 'cosmetic' appearance, for example, of a vehicle body assembly, to be set and validated. "Using aesthetica™ on this project enables us to visualise the effects of production variations in real time and to better understand the degree of the flexibility within the components and assemblies in question", said Alan Olifent, lead engineer, Simulation Project, Premier Automotive Research & Development Programme at WMG's International Automotive Research Centre. "When you are examining the effects of manufacturing variation, it is always beneficial to be able to see what is actually going on, rather than having to rely just on numerical dimensional data", he added. "Icona's aesthetica™ software enables this to be done, with high quality visualisations. Furthermore, when the project is complete it will help us to communicate the results of our research and will also demonstrate the benefits of using a software tool like aesthetica™ for something more than visualising the ideal, nominal condition of an assembly." "We are delighted that Warwick Manufacturing Group has selected aesthetica™ for use in this important research and development project," said Dr. David Belford, executive chairman, Icona Solutions Ltd. "It demonstrates the value of being able to simulate and visualise the effects of production variation, in real time, early in the product development process." About Warwick Manufacturing Group.Founded in 1980 and with its headquarters at Warwick University, Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) is one of Europe's leading manufacturing research and development groups. It is involved in publicly and privately funded innovation in both products and processes, with a focus of research, development and the application of new approaches for a wide range of manufacturing sectors. WMG has pioneered an international model for working with industry, with centres in Hong Kong, South Africa, India, China, Malaysia and Thailand. To provide focus for its collaborative research and development work, WMG has also formed five specialist centres: the International Automotive Research Centre, the Simulation Centre, the Software Applications Centre, the International Manufacturing Centre and the Process Technology Centre. Research collaborations have been established with WMG in Europe, North America and the Far East. About aesthetica™Icona Solutions' aesthetica™ software provides an accurate, visual simulation of the effects of component variation, assembly variation and component deformation in manufactured assemblies in order to resolve issues of fit and finish quality. It presents results using a high quality interactive 3D virtual reproduction of a product so that the engineer can see it precisely as the customer will see the final product. This gives greater insight than has previously been possible into the impact of manufacturing variation, improving perceived quality while saving time and improving communication in the design process. About Icona Solutions Ltd.Founded in 2003, Icona Solutions developed from pioneering work undertaken at the School of Computing, University of Leeds in the UK as part of a government funded (EPSRC) project. The application of Icona's aesthetica™ software enables designers and engineers to simulate the effect of manufacturing variation realistically on a virtual prototype so that aesthetic review can be undertaken on the virtual model. This reduces physical prototyping or expensive post-production re-design. aesthetica™ software can be used at many stages in the design process, in place of physical prototypes, thereby reducing cost and improving efficiency. Editorial contacts:David Belford |
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