Options and Variants is a very powerful and yet easy to use design automation tool. In a short amount of time it helps designers configure systems to provide consistently accurate designs while saving an enormous amount of time and money.
There are so many E3 users raving about this functionality. Check out the video below to see how it works, how easy it is to add these options in your design and to control your design.
You can also check out the Options and Variants Blog series to get more details:
SolidWorks Sustainability was introduced back in 2010 to assist engineers design renewable products in the early stages. Here is an interesting article on this topic.
Everyone knows what forecasting means, but have you heard of the term “backcasting”? With forecasts we want to know what the future will be like. Backcasting is a different mindset. Rather than trying to predict what happens in the future, we decide upfront what we want our future to be. Then we can make decisions and steps to turn that future into a reality. We have the power to create a better future and this is greater than any prediction.
Backcasting is important for sustainable development. Without a solid plan in place, the future may look more like current “forecasts” and less like the vision from our “backcast”. Not all will agree upon the exact future we desire, but working together in taking steps forward will benefit the planet and promote innovation.
SolidWorks Sustainability allows designers to review their decisions on materials, manufacturing and transportation of products to pinpoint areas where the environmental impact can be minimized. Keeping this in mind during the design stage will not only promote innovative green designs, but also reduce waste and overall production costs.
Here is a short video on “Designing for the Planet” from Joseph Vera from inkavera:
There are other great postings on inkavera’s blog at www.inkavera.com
I just love a nice cold beer but I also have a big dilemma. Should I buy cans or bottles? It tastes great out of both but since I have been spending time with the Javelin Green team and also had some training on the SolidWorks SustainablityXpress product I feel that I need to get that question answered. I want to enjoy my beer and also be environmentally responsible.
So I asked Joseph Vera from inkaverna (www.inkaverna.com) to do a quick life cycle assessment (LCA) for me to tell me which is a better container for my favourite beverage – can or bottle. Joseph is a Sustainbility Expert and has a Masters in Engineering and Public Policy (and I know he likes beer too). Joseph helps companies incorporate sustainability into their product design and he has been helping the Javelin Customer Care team with the development of sustainable design training and mentoring programs that we will be offering to our customers.
In the video below Joseph runs through a LCA and gives us the answer to this very important question. Please check it out.
For anyone who would like to learn more about sustainable design both Javelin and inkaverna would be pleased to help you out.
Thanks for the help with this Joseph. I owe you a nice cold Steamwhistle beer (hint).
I watched the Sustainability – Life Cycle Analysis webinar this morning presented by Asheen Phansey (Sustainability Product Manager at SolidWorks). During his presentation, he mentioned an interesting case study about laundry detergents, where LCA (Life cycle analysis) was used to assess the material, energy and water requirements and environmental emissions across all life cycle phases, including raw material acquisition and transport, product manufacturing, packaging and distribution, consumer use and post-consumer disposal.
Worldwide awareness of environmental issues has never been more acute. Consumers are increasingly considering the environmental impact of products they buy. They’re not just looking at recyclability. They want to know about materials used and how the product was made. Manufacturers, in turn, are trying to respond to that growing demand.
What it means to you
As an engineer or product designer, you have the power to dramatically alter how we interact with our environment. The question is how. Many designers don’t know about the life cycle assessment (LCA) process or how it could guide them to more sustainable designs. Others may think the process is too complex and time-consuming, or is someone else’s responsibility. Learning about designing for the environment now will put you ahead of the curve.
What it means to your company
As a manufacturer, you have no choice but to address market changes. SolidWorks Sustainability is a tool that can help you stay profitable as consumers increasingly choose sustainably designed products. Using LCA information early in your design process will save your company time and money by avoiding surprising sustainability assessments and costly redesigns later. As a matter of global corporate citizenship, sustainable design means making decisions to ensure future environmental stability.
What are we doing to help you?
In addition to providing customers with SolidWorks Sustainability software, Javelin is currently working with Joseph Vera, an Environmental & Energy Specialist, to develop Sustainable Design Training Courses, Webinars, and Online Content to help our customers become more environmentally friendly designers.
Joseph Vera is a Professional Engineer with over 10 years experience in Product Development and Design. He is currently finishing a Masters in Engineering and Public Policy. His research specializes in Ecodesign, Life Cycle Analysis (LCA), Industrial Ecology, Green Engineering, and Sustainable Manufacturing Processes. Joseph’s professional goal, as an Environmental & Energy Specialist, is to help businesses adopt green practices in order to gain a competitive advantage.
The editors of Design News magazine chose SolidWorks Sustainability as a Golden Mousetrap Award Best Product winner based on its ability to help designers create more environmentally-friendly products. SolidWorks Sustainability helps users determine their designs’ carbon footprint, energy consumption, and air/water impacts.
