7. Conclusion

Advances in digital technologies have made it commonplace to use tools to represent "objects" being designed, facilitating dialogue between engineering staff and those responsible for production and maintenance functions, as well as the maintenance of products in use.

Simulation tools and models enable us to predict with ever greater precision the behavior of complex products in gestation, and also to anticipate critical phases in production processes.

Thanks to digital technology, future difficulties in the industrial transition from the virtual to the real world are increasingly well anticipated, helping to reduce development times and improve the performance of companies of all sizes in terms of "Quality-Cost-Delivery".

Suppliers' know-how must now play a part in optimizing the product offering if we are to survive...