Specifically, it gives them the ability to virtually design a complete product and simulate how it will work under real world conditions before it is built.

With updates to Autodesk Inventor, AutoCAD Mechanical, AutoCAD Electrical, Autodesk AliasStudio, Autodesk Showcase and Autodesk Productstream software products, users can further exploit Digital Prototyping by connecting the industrial design, engineering and manufacturing teams through the use of a single digital model.

Digital Prototyping reduces a manufacturer’s reliance on physical prototypes, which in turn helps reduce cost and speeds time to market in highly competitive industries.

"Autodesk is changing the way companies think about their design processes, with workflows more efficient and effective than ever before," said Vincent Chia, Senior Sales Manager, Manufacturing Solutions, Autodesk Asia Pacific. "With the release of our 2009 product line, we’re helping manufacturers address their business-critical issues such as innovation, support for larger designs, and working with other people’s data."

"By putting powerful Digital Prototyping technology within the reach of mainstream manufacturers, they can experience the future results of their work with analysis, simulation tools and detailed visualization," continued Chia, one of the resource persons at Autodesk Inc.’s inaugural Southeast Asia World Press Days event held last February 29 here.

Other Autodesk executives also announced updates to Autodesk’s comprehensive software solutions for building information modeling (BIM) including Revit Architecture, Revit Structure, Revit MEP and AutoCAD Civil 3D (three dimension).

BIM is an integrated workflow built on coordinated, reliable information about a project from design through construction and into operations. By adopting BIM, architects, engineers, contractors and owners can easily create coordinated, digital design information and documentation; use that information to accurately predict performance, appearance and cost; and reliably deliver the project faster, more economically and with reduced environmental impact.

The highly regarded analysis technology from Robobat and Intelisolve are all now part of the Autodesk portfolio. Such as in Autodesk’s 2009 BIM solutions that helps architects, engineers and designers to make better design decisions earlier in their process. The updated BIM solutions also improve project collaboration and integration between the building design, civil engineering and construction disciplines.

"Demand for innovation and efficiency in building design, civil engineering and construction continues to drive the AEC industry’s adoption of BIM," said Ho Chow Jin, Sr. Business Development Manager, Architecture, Engineering and Construction, Autodesk ASEAN. "Autodesk is continually working to provide our customers with technology that provides competitive advantage and design innovation. Our BIM solutions offer complete, effective design and analysis tools and continue the revolution in AEC workflow catalyzed by our Revit platform."

The Revit platform for BIM features improvements to each of the purpose-built solutions for architects and engineers. It keeps information coordinated, up-to-date and accessible in an integrated digital environment, giving project teams a clear overall vision of their designs and streamlining the decision-making process. New updates to the Revit platform include:

One, Revit Architecture 2009 (BIM for architects and designers) allows customers to capture early design concepts with improved analysis and visualization capabilities.

Two, Revit Structure 2009 (BIM for structural engineers, designers and drafters) has been enhanced with greater modeling and documentation capabilities and is Compatible with the newly acquired Robobat solutions. The AutoCAD Revit Structure Suite now includes AutoCAD Structural Detailing.

International Data Corporation (IDC) analyst Gisela Wilson, Director of IDC’s Product, Project and Portfolio Management Solutions Program recently issued a report on the competitive advantage that Digital Prototyping provides in today’s manufacturing area.

"Manufacturers are embracing Digital Prototyping as a way to stay ahead of market trends, such as the growing demand for superior styling of consumer goods and the need for accelerated time-to-market." Wilson said, "Additionally, designers can try a larger number of design choices because designs can be executed much more rapidly than with physical prototypes."

The report emphasized Autodesk’s strong competitive position within the Digital Prototyping marketplace, due to its comprehensive and ever-evolving product portfolio. "Autodesk is poised to become the clear leader in Digital Prototyping – from industrial design and high end visualization through to manufacturing – with its broad product offering for new product design, development and data management," said Wilson.

Since its initial release in 1999, manufacturers in a variety of fields – from automotive and consumer products, to industrial equipment and machinery – have relied on Autodesk Inventor software to streamline their workflows. As the foundation of Digital Prototyping, the products in the Inventor product family produce 3D models that validate the form, fit and function of a design before it is built. The Inventor 2009 product line makes enhancements to many of the core design tools within the Inventor product line, offering significant increases in productivity.