Small-to-medium-sized manufacturers (SME) are important. SMEs' roles are vital to the health and well-being of the U.S. economy. Did you know that SMEs employ more than twice the total number of workers of all large OEMs combined, and are also responsible for three-quarters of the total research and development output?
Have you heard about high-performance computing (HPC) as a development tool in the manufacturing industry? Most companies still use physical prototyping as their primary means of production. Perhaps the decision to invest in technical computing assets is not simple due to the hefty price tag and possible steep learning curve.
In the small-to-medium-sized manufacturer industry, competition is fierce. There are struggles with slim margins; while trying to maintain lean and productive operations. To keep pace with customers and the large OEMs that have access to HPC, small-to-medium-sized companies need a technological advantage. To be leading members of the supply chain, a competitive edge is necessary – this is where applying HPC provides an advantage.
Let's explore some of the reasons to consider HPC, including the key benefits and potential drawbacks.
High-Performance Computing. High-Performance Benefits!
With HPC, simulations that would normally run for days or weeks on a desktop workstation can complete in just a matter of hours. Whether your organization uses HPC-assisted manufacturing on local assets or in the cloud, the results are the same – a faster time to innovation.
Using technical computing assets can reduce your company's prototyping costs and increase product development. The reduced costs, improved time to market and higher quality of product from a correctly-implemented investment pays remarkable dividends to the small-to-medium manufacturer and boosts Return On Investment (ROI) considerably.
So suffice it to say, consider making the switch and experience great benefits as a result. It is certainly not only applicable in the domain of the large OEM manufacturer.
Overcoming A Common HPC Roadblock
An on-premise infrastructure is a possibility, but for many manufacturers it is not feasible. Cost here can be a substantial issue. And cost is not just the capital expenditure of buying the hardware and software, but also the labor involved in researching, selecting and buying needed HPC components, managing the infrastructure and so on.
Given these limitations, more and more backbone manufacturers are opting to go with HPC through the cloud.
At Nimbis Services, Inc., we’ve had a lot of experience working with the small-to-medium-sized manufacturers (SMEs) and understanding first-hand the issues SMEs face as they participate in the manufacturing design process. Through our collaborative efforts we have participated in and worked directly with manufacturers to enable access to modeling and simulation tools. Nimbis connects its clients transparently through an industry-wide brokerage and clearinghouse with third party compute resources (cycle providers), commercial application software, and expertise.
Our primary goal is to provide low-risk, low-effort, pay-as-you go access to HPC in the cloud for small and medium sized enterprises in the engineering and manufacturing supply chain who are currently unable to move beyond technical computing on the desktop. A key aspect of Nimbis' services is to provide access to and license management for commercial HPC software. Nimbis provides these services as part of the AweSim Team.
Be sure to follow us on Twitter @NimbisSvcs and @AweSimApps for more updates and great information regarding HPC and the benefits of modeling and simulation.