Software firm taps PH’s manufacturers for design solutions

CHRIS Lee

Multinational software corporation Autodesk Inc. is optimistic that it can attract the Philippine manufacturing industry by using its engineering and design solutions.

Chris Lee, Autodesk’s regional industry manager (Manufacturing) for Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) region, says that the corporation offers solutions that will enable “manufacturers to create the adventurous, one-of-a-kind products that previously would have been the domain of individual artisans.”

While the country’s manufacturing sector has lost some of its businesses to China, Autodesk is banking on the Philippine economy’s improvement in the past few years, noting the 7.8-percent growth on GDP.

Lee says that manufacturers can look at the advantages of 3D printing because it can “transform traditional manufacturing processes.” The potential of manufacturing can be further maximized when visions are easily transformed into concrete designs.

Consumers and manufacturers can simulate their designs with the use of Autodesk 123D Creature, Catch, Design or other digital prototyping software before they can go to final prototyping. These solutions not only help in cutting down costs but also save time from creating to actual marketing of products.

“With Autodesk 2014 Design Suite for manufacturing, customers can now rapidly explore multiple design ideas and visualize projects now with even greater effectiveness,” he adds.

Its manufacturing software is used in creating automotive components, consumer products, electro-mechanical, industrial machinery, industrial equipment, and tool and die machines.

Autodesk is also into architecture, engineering, construction, media, and the entertainment industries. Its products and solutions were used in movies like “Avatar,” “Iron Man,” and “Man of Steel,” which were filled with notable graphics and designs. Its design products also include the Autodesk Product Design Suite and Autodesk Factory Design Suite which aims to simplify design processes that even new graphics designers can use.

According to Lee, the company designed the fuel efficient, two-passenger hybrid car, which it calls the Urbee. The company used 3D design software in designing the car, and all of its body parts were made using 3D printers, including its glass panels.

“It is unlikely that such an iconoclastic vehicle would’ve been produced by the large automotive companies, with their traditional assembly line manufacturing processes,” he says.

Lee attributes the current wide use of 3D printing to the “lowering cost of 3D printers and design capabilities that will power the 3D printing industry.”

Aside from these solutions, Lee also introduces Autodesk’s cloud solutions, the Autodesk 360, which aims to aid collaboration and streamline workflow.

“Autodesk is the first software company that launched a series of solutions that are available on the cloud,” Lee says. “The technology allows users to run very data intensive analysis through mobile devices.”

The corporation is known for AutoCAD, its first notable product that helped shape the design industry in the past decades.

Autodesk is an American corporation established 30 years ago. Its commitment to design is punctuated by half a billion dollars worth of investments every year on research and development with 2,000 training centers located in different parts of the world. It posted a revenue growth of $2.3 billion last year.

In terms of customer base, Lee said the corporation has 100 million users especially with the consumer industry. In the Philippines, Tech Converge Inc. is the appointed local distributor for Autodesk solutions.