# How Simulation Technology is Reshaping Product Design w/ Dr. Masha Petrova

- Show: [The Manufacturing Executive](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive)
- Published: 2024-05-21
- Length: 32m
- Episode: 206
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-05-21-how-simulation-technology-is-reshaping-product-design-w-dr-masha-petrova
- Listen: https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-manufacturing-executive#episode-786eba3f-0795-499e-9c1d-acbf5c7c0115

## Summary

Dr. Masha Petrova, CEO of Nullpace, explains how engineering simulation (CAE) allows manufacturers to design thousands of variations digitally before manufacturing only a few, replacing costly physical prototyping. She discusses the industry's shift from a few legacy providers like ANSYS and MSC Software to a consolidation trend driven by AI and chip industry demands, noting that venture capital has historically overlooked this rigorous field. Petrova highlights the challenge of tool adoption, where engineers lack time to evaluate new software, and proposes that companies must incentivize this exploration to keep pace with innovation.

## Chapters

- [0:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-05-21-how-simulation-technology-is-reshaping-product-design-w-dr-masha-petrova#t=37) Introduction: Dr. Masha Petrova and Nullpace
- [5:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-05-21-how-simulation-technology-is-reshaping-product-design-w-dr-masha-petrova#t=312) Defining Engineering Simulation (CAE) vs CAD
- [10:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-05-21-how-simulation-technology-is-reshaping-product-design-w-dr-masha-petrova#t=650) Applications: Acoustics, Aerodynamics, and Electromagnetics
- [14:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-05-21-how-simulation-technology-is-reshaping-product-design-w-dr-masha-petrova#t=890) Challenges in Tool Adoption and Engineer Time
- [24:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-05-21-how-simulation-technology-is-reshaping-product-design-w-dr-masha-petrova#t=1444) Industry Consolidation and VC Investment Trends
- [31:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-05-21-how-simulation-technology-is-reshaping-product-design-w-dr-masha-petrova#t=1862) The Future: AI-Guided Design and Autonomous Manufacturing

## Topics

- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)
- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)
- [EDA & CAD tools](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/eda-and-cad-tools)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Nullpace (company)
- ANSYS (company)
- Altium (company)
- MSC Software (company)
- Hexagon (company)
- Synopsys (company)
- Gorilla 76 (company)
- UC San Diego (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [163: 2023 Trends in Product Development for Hardware Products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-02-16-163-2023-trends-in-product-development-for-hardware-products) (Product Startup)
- [190: Why Manufacturers Should Build a Simulation-First Culture with Visual Components' Graham Wloch](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-06-18-190-why-manufacturers-should-build-a-simulation-first-culture-with-visual-compon) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [S6E46 Rick James | ANSYS & Engineering Simulation](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-11-14-s6e46-rick-james-ansys-engineering-simulation) (Being an Engineer)
- [182: Consumer Product Hardware Trends in Mid 2023](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-06-30-182-consumer-product-hardware-trends-in-mid-2023) (Product Startup)
- [Industrial design prototyping vs simulations - IDology #21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/idology/2024-04-30-industrial-design-prototyping-vs-simulations-idology-21) (IDology)

## Citing this page

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