I’ve been working with NAFEMS since 2023, helping assess engineers applying for their Professional Simulation Engineer certification – last week was my one hundredth interview!
It’s been quite the challenge finding time in my schedule of consulting, training development and software sales/support, but my early Friday mornings have become ringfenced as NAFEMS time!
These interviews have been great – delving into an engineer’s knowledge and experience has been really interesting from a theoretical perspective, but perhaps more importantly seeing how simulation fits safely and sensibly into their product development role.
The main advantage of PSE is how it gives simulation engineers a clear framework around experience and assessment to grow their skills and understanding – vital for any organisation wanting to have confidence in an engineer’s abilities.
In my early roles (nearly 30 years ago!), developing a career around simulation was very different. We had no access to structured development, training existed solely in the classroom, and bridging the gap between academic studies and practical skills was fraught with danger!
I was lucky that an early career position with MSC Software (now Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence) gave an excellent apprenticeship in applied FEA, built on my academic learning and doctoral research. Those experiences have remained with me, and I was fortunate to gain NAFEMS PSE at advanced level in 2015.
Fortunately, these days engineers have access to far more resources around simulation fundamentals and practical application.
As well as the NAFEMS PSE framework, practical publications by Dominique Madier and Claudio Gianini, explanation of the fundamentals by Tony Abbey FRAeS, Lonny Thompson and Alex Szatmary, Ph.D., P.E., and access to ease to use, easy to learn software has really changed the learning curve.
Both aspiring and accomplished simulation engineers have the tools, resources and examples at their fingertips to allow them to develop their capabilities and help influence the products of tomorrow.
So, if you’re on a simulation journey, I’d definitely recommend checking out the NAFEMS PSE certification program. Further details can be seen here.
