New trends in computer simulation as integrated tool for automotive components development

New market requirements have becoming more persistent through the introduction of new technologies that can lead the actual vehicle designs to reach very high safety standards, world class quality levels, reasonable production costs and schedule timing for product development, due new design features and introduction of new materials. To reach those targets, process integration, since the early concept development phases until the start of production, must provide a streamlined scalable environment that encompasses every step in the process from early feasibility to final validation. The experience in supplier process development in the last four years at Volkswagen in Brazil shows that the development of product and processes can be integrated and that the synergy effect of this integration can make it possible to develop mature products and install robust processes to produce them.