PLM developer Dassault Systèmes and Cadence, primarily known for its solutions for electronics design, have combined Dassault’s 3DEXPERIENCE platform with the capabilities of Cadence's Allegro software.

The announcement comes as no surprise, and is in line with the growing requirements from the companies around the world when it comes to integrated platform solutions related to the transformation to electrical vehicles and machine solutions. This is particularly applicable to the automotive, aerospace & defense, high tech (consumer goods) and machinery equipment sectors.

The background here is that electrification and the increasingly advanced development and use of printed circuit boards (PCBs), semiconductors, integrated circuit (IC) packaging and similar technologies require coordination of solutions and systems to be able to efficiently and quickly handle the complex processes of today's products when it comes to product development work.

“Connected electronic systems raise the standard in all industries within the experience economy, where the value of a product comes from its use. Our strategic partnership with Cadence will revolutionize the development of high-performance electronic systems by enabling collaboration around virtual twin experiences,” says Dassault's VP of Global Brands, Philippe Laufer.

Moreover, for Dassault this is a necessary step to compete in an already competitive landscape. For example, Siemens Digital Industries radically improved their capabilities in these areas after the purchase of Mentor Graphics and the integration of solutions such as Expedition (IC and PCB), Capital (Electronic/Electrical systems) and Valor (PCB manufacturing), as well as other complementary purchased solutions in the Xcelerator portfolio. Siemens has also already produced Cadence integrations in this track.

Multi-Year Collaboration

Dassault and Cadence have therefore combined Dassault’s 3DEXPERIENCE platform with Cadence’s Allegro, in a joint solution that will enable companies to master multidisciplinary modeling, simulation and optimization of complex, connected electronic systems.

Dassault notes that it has been involved in a multi-year collaboration with Cadence and some of its leading customers to prove this solution in a global production environment.

“Companies must switch from ‘product thinking’ to ‘experience thinking’ in their development processes to deliver the experiences that consumers want and to succeed in this economy,” commented Philippe Laufer, executive VP of Dassault's Global Brands.

Laufer further believes that with this new multidisciplinary solution, customers can now “accelerate their system development process from end to end while optimizing their design for performance, reliability, manufacturability, delivery reliability, compliance and cost.”

Collaborative digital twin experiences integrate functions for electronic and mechanical product lifecycle management, business process analysis and multi-disciplinary electronic system development, engineering and traceability.

A Holistic Model Based On Digital Twins

Dassault has been working on digital twins more intensively over the past year, and believes they have to play a major role in this context. In Dassault's terminology they are called "virtual twins" but these are what everyone else generally refers to as "digital twins."

In any case, this means that the collaborative digital twin experiences integrate functions for electronic and mechanical product lifecycle management, business process analysis and multi-disciplinary electronic system development, engineering and traceability. This creates a holistic model that, according to Dassault, "provides a complete real-time view of electrical and mechanical simulation, manufacturing and supply chain execution for the product life cycle, improves decision-making and accelerates innovation, through what-if studies."

Product Complexity Works Everywhere

Cadence's Tom Beckley, senior VP and head of the Custom IC & PCB Group, argues that products and services, which are increasingly interconnected and intelligent, enable consumers, citizens—and in the case of healthcare, patients—to unlock more personal, engaging experiences that improve the quality of life.

“Every industry today is affected by product complexity due to electrification, security, connectivity, sustainability, AI/ML (Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning), clouds, supply chain/regulatory challenges and more,” Beckley claimed.

"Cadence is the global leader for design and analysis of complexes IP, semiconductors, advanced IC packaging, PCBs and electrical systems,” he added. “Combined with Dassault Systèmes’ powerful 3DEXPERIENCE platform, customers now have the opportunity to literally transform their business including electronics, mechanics, manufacturing and product lifecycle management. We are excited about our strategic partnership with Dassault, which enables electromechanical virtual twin experiences for rapid product realization."

An example of an interface in Cadence’s Allegro platform.

"Revolutionize Development," Philippe Laufer Says

There are few who are prepared to oppose this conclusion. The context includes a dynamic where companies must quickly develop electronic systems that are secure, of high quality and accurate the first time.

Mastering the complexity of the electronic system, cost and time-to-market pressures requires collaborative innovations that combine electronics, mechanics and additional functions across the entire value chain.

Dassault's Philippe Laufer agrees.

“Connected electronic systems raise the standard in all industries within the experience economy, where the value of a product comes from its use,” he says. “Our strategic partnership with Cadence will revolutionize the development of high-performance electronic systems by enabling collaboration around virtual twin experiences.”