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Shift Left with Virtual Prototyping: What Does it Mean?
In a Nutshell: It's All About Maximizing Efficiency and Quality in the Product Development Cycle
In engineering contexts, ‘Shift Left’ refers to the strategic decision to move testing and validation activities closer to the beginning of the development process, rather than waiting until later stages. By creating an end-to-end digital thread, testing and validation activities are carried out on virtual prototypes right at the beginning of the product development cycle. This proactive approach aims to identify and address potential issues earlier, reducing the likelihood of costly defects and delays down the line. Essentially, it involves frontloading decision-making and problem-solving, ensuring that critical decisions are made collaboratively when they are most impactful and cost-effective.
Evolution of Shift Left Strategy: Move From Concept to Practice
Shift test from a linear, sequential process left towards simultaneous development and testing. (C) ESI Group 2024
The concept of Shift Left has evolved over time, driven by the increasing complexity of modern products and the need for faster time-to-market. Traditionally, testing was often deferred until after the completion of design and implementation phases. However, as products became more intricate and interconnected, waiting until later stages to uncover issues became increasingly risky and costly.
Over the years, engineering teams began to recognize the benefits of early testing and validation. This led to the gradual adoption of Shift Left principles, with organizations incorporating testing activities into earlier stages of the development process. Today, Shift Left is not just a concept but a fundamental aspect of modern product development methodologies.
What is driving Manufacturers towards establishing a Shift Left culture?
Top Drivers to shift left with virtual prototyping, (C) Aberdeen Research, December 2023
The need for manufacturing companies to shift their testing left is driven by several factors, chief among them being the escalating complexity of products. Modern products, particularly in industries such as automotive, aerospace, heavy machinery, and consumer electronics, feature a multitude of interconnected, electromechanical and mechatronic components, subsystems and systems. As complexity increases, so does the potential of failure.
In contrast to the traditional shift right approach, the ultimate goal for manufacturers to frontload testing to the left part of the process is to proactively identify and address issues before they cascade into larger problems within the production environment. This approach not only reduces the risk of defects but also minimizes the time and resources required for fixes. Moreover, with the growing emphasis on agility and responsiveness in today's market, early validation with virtual testing software enables manufacturers to adapt to changing requirements and customer feedback more effectively.
What are the benefits of shifting product performance testing left?
The benefits of Shift Left testing are manifold and far-reaching.
- By identifying and addressing issues early in the development process, manufacturers can significantly reduce the risk of defects, rework, and costly recalls.
- Moreover, Shift Left enables organizations to streamline their development workflows, improve time-to-market, and enhance overall product quality and reliability.
- Furthermore, by leveraging virtual prototype testing, manufacturers can minimize the need for physical prototypes, thereby reducing development costs and environmental impact.
- Additionally, the insights gained from virtual prototype testing enable organizations to optimize product performance, functionality, and user experience, ultimately driving greater customer satisfaction and loyalty.
Top-performing organizations embracing 'shift left’ were able to significantly reduce their reliance on physical prototypes by 75.6% and decrease engineering change orders by 73.8%, resulting in a 75.2% decrease in the overall development time.
Aberdeen Research & Strategy
Overcoming Barriers to adopting the shift left methodology
A recent research conducted by business analyst Aberdeen Research & Strategy identified the top barriers to tech adoption. Despite its numerous benefits, the adoption of Shift Left testing can be challenging for some organizations. Common barriers include resistance to change, legacy processes and systems, and a lack of expertise in digitalization and simulation technologies. Additionally, concerns related to data security, interoperability, and scalability may hinder adoption efforts.
Top operational challenges with virtual testing hindering the effective adoption of the shift left approach; (C) Aberdeen Research, December 2023
To overcome these barriers, manufacturers must invest in training and upskilling their workforce, foster a culture of innovation and collaboration, and embrace agile methodologies that prioritize flexibility and adaptability. Moreover, partnering with the engineering and customer services department of experienced technology providers can help organizations navigate the complexities of digitalization and accelerate their Shift Left initiatives.
Risks of Not Shifting Left
Conversely, failing to adopt Shift Left testing can expose manufacturers to a myriad of risks and challenges.
- Delayed identification of issues and bugs can lead to costly rework, missed deadlines, and damage to brand reputation.
- Moreover, in highly regulated industries such as aerospace and healthcare, compliance failures resulting from inadequate testing can have serious legal and financial consequences.
- Furthermore, relying solely on physical prototypes for testing can be prohibitively expensive and time-consuming, particularly for complex products with long development cycles.
Without the insights provided by virtual prototype testing, organizations may struggle with optimizing performance, reliability, and safety of new complex systems, putting them at a competitive disadvantage in the market.
Conclusion: Embracing the Future of Product Development
In conclusion, the Shift Left and Virtual Prototype Testing approach in the development cycle represents the future of product development. By moving testing and validation activities earlier in the development process, manufacturers can mitigate risks, improve efficiency, and enhance product quality and reliability. Through the incremental adoption of state-of-the-art technologies and principles such as concurrent engineering and end-to-end digitalization, organizations can unlock new opportunities for innovation and competitive advantage in today's rapidly evolving marketplace. As the industry continues to embrace the shift of performance testing to the left side, we can expect to see a paradigm shift in how products are designed, tested, and brought to market, ultimately leading to more predictive and collaborative decision-making in real-time.
Access the details of our fresh research with Aberdeen Strategy & Research on the value of shift left and virtual prototyping.
Author
Denise Börner
Sr. Marketing Content Specialist
Denise is a seasoned media and communication professional with over 15 years of experience in the IT industry, spanning logistics and asset management software to system simulation and virtual prototyping (CAE & PLM). With a deep passion for technological innovation and sustainability, Denise is a steadfast ambassador and fervent advocate for Virtual Prototyping, utilizing her extensive expertise to steer companies through the conundrum of terminology in the era of digital and AI. As the Sr. Marketing Content Specialist at ESI, Denise creates insightful publications that help businesses understand the technologies, methodologies, and value of shifting from physical to virtual prototype testing – a transition that is facilitated through the utilization of CAE software, augmented with immersive tools and hybrid AI technologies.
Category: Digital Transformation