As we look toward 2025, the CAD industry stands on the brink of transformative change. In this inaugural article of our “2025 Predictions” series, Manish Kumar, CEO of SOLIDWORKS, explores how advancements in technology and methodology are reshaping the design and manufacturing landscape. From the integration of MODSIM (Modeling and Simulation) to the pivotal role of centralized data and the emergence of AI-driven capabilities, Kumar outlines the trends that will redefine how teams collaborate, innovate, and deliver in a rapidly evolving market. Join us as we delve into his expert insights on what’s next for the future of design and the tools driving it.

MODSIM, The Future of Design

Manish Kumar

By Manish Kumar, SOLIDWORKS CEO and R&D Vice President

As we approach 2025, MODSIM — a unified modeling and simulation-based design approach — will take center stage in driving product innovation through real-time feedback and simultaneous operations. This approach will lead to breaking down traditional silos in design, bridging the gap between modeling and simulation, and overcoming cross-disciplinary barriers to foster a more collaborative design environment.

This transformation will streamline workflows, accelerating time to market and enabling the creation of innovative products that meet evolving customer needs. As designs grow increasingly complex, the 3D modeling and CAD environment will shift from siloed practices to collaborative frameworks, requiring multidisciplinary input to tackle complex design challenges.

Centralized Data Will be the Key to Better Decision Making and the End of “Over the Wall” Mentality Centralized access to information will no longer be a luxury but a necessity for seamless data flow, enabling real-time decision-making and seamless cross-disciplinary collaboration. As product designs evolve from basic mechanical structures to complex, integrated systems that combine electronics and software, collaboration across engineering, design, and manufacturing teams will become critical. A unified view of real-time data will break down silos, enabling faster, more informed decisions and driving innovation in product development.

Prioritizing centralized access to data will alleviate constraints derived from the outdated “over the wall” mentality, where teams worked in isolation and passed incomplete information between departments. Instead, we will see a unified source of truth for all product data. This shift will allow engineering and manufacturing teams to collaborate from the earliest design stages, streamlining communication and accelerating decision-making. Research has shown that nearly half of manufacturers still struggle with poor decision-making, often due to fragmented and siloed data. We need to dramatically lower that number in 2025. With integrated tools, real-time, centralized data access, and cross-disciplinary collaboration, companies can reduce time-to-market, enhance innovation, and avoid the costly mistakes caused by fragmented information—leading the way in the future of design and manufacturing.

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