NEW Autodesk OTJ with Dynamic Structures

If I could sum up how a single company can design and manufacture the worlds largest telescopes, extremely unique bridge designs, and some of the most thrilling amusement park rides from the same group of engineers, designers, and manufacturing teams; it would be a focus on fundamentals.

It's easy to get wrapped up in an insignificant detail when you haven't solved for the entire equation. That's the perspective that I walked away with after meeting the team at Dynamic Structures. You know... these guys:

 

Dynamic Structures have been using Autodesk Inventor for a long time and really worked with us on making areas of the product better over the years. And if you want to talk about large assemblies... these guys wrote the book on it. No, really they have a book on it. When they were having issues back in the earlier days of Inventor with their huge assemblies, our man Luc Groulx rolled up his sleeves and worked tirelessly with the DS team to documents both the required workflows for large assembly management as well as the technology requirement that we needed to address on our end. This level of partnership with our customers is something that we put an extremely high value on and as such I wanted to go meet the guys (and gals) first hand.

The OTJ film shoots are a two day thing. Day one I go around and try to get to know the team by following the data around. It's a really good way of getting the full impact of our design tools at work and more than anything try and get the folks that I will be interviewing on camera comfortable with what we are going to talk about. What struck me was that while I was in Canada, I didn't talk to two people with the same accent. Dynamic Structures has probably the most diverse team in a single building that I have ever had the opportunity to meet.

The highlight of the trip was for me to sit down with Dave Halliday, President of Dynamic Structures. Dave was recently awarded The Order of Canada for his work in astronomy. Now without getting all sentimental (and please Mr. Halliday don't take this wrong), I enjoyed our conversation to the same level I enjoy sitting down with my grandfather and just listening to life experiences and how they can take you down a path that you could have never thought possible. It's definitely the most candid interview I had a chance to do with anyone, let alone a national icon when it comes to Canadian astronomy. His approach to solving unique design challenges is what has made Dynamic Structures such a successful company, and I think we captured his fundamental approach in our interview.

Give it a look, let me know what you guys think and how you utilize simulation tools to solve your unique challenges:

 

-Rob

 

Comments

[Scott]

I really enjoyed this OTJ. cheers for the effort. Was cool to read about the diversity in their office, it reminded me of my design office, we have 12 people sitting in it, we have New Zealanders, Scottish, English, Canadian, Australian, South African, Chinese, Brazilian & did have German and French designers as well. All of different ages, from early 20's to pending retirees.