Process Automation for Engineers
Interview with Daniel Siegel, CEO + Co-Founder of Synera
Introduction to Synera
Could you introduce us to Synera, outlining the motivations for founding the company and the specific gap in the market the software was designed to address?
Synera is a software platform designed as a workflow editor. It utilizes visual programming and low-code technology, enabling engineers to automate their own repetitive tasks or those of their colleagues.
Before founding Synera, I spent nearly a decade in the engineering service industry, managing teams of CAD designers, simulation, and manufacturing experts. We specialized in developing alternative solutions for parts in the automotive and aerospace sectors, often stepping in as “firefighters” when internal teams failed to meet technical specifications on time. Our work involved extensive interaction with various CAx tools, and much of our day was consumed by clicking through interfaces, chatting, writing emails, and sending PowerPoint and PDF reports.
It became clear that the software tools available were not optimized for a fast, digital, and streamlined development process. While these tools were helpful and played a significant role in advancing engineering, they were not sufficient for the next phase of innovation.
Driven by this need, we began developing a tool to drastically accelerate our service business. Eventually, we realized that this tool could address a global gap in process automation for engineers. This led to the founding of Synera, as we transformed from an engineering service into a B2B software startup.
Expansion Beyond Additive Manufacturing
After initially targeting the additive manufacturing sector, which was receptive to new tools and methodologies, could you discuss the broader range of markets Synera now serves?
We initially focused on the additive manufacturing (AM) segment, recognizing that decision-makers in this area are generally more receptive to new technologies and understand the importance of extensive automation, particularly when utilizing design tools or approaches like topology optimization or process engineering in build job preparation.
However, Synera was never intended to be a tool exclusive to additive manufacturing. It is a versatile software platform designed to empower engineers to develop process automation workflows across various fields.
The scope of Synera’s applicability is directly linked to the functionality of our software. As our feature set and list expand, so too does the range of fields where our users can quickly generate value. Moreover, we chose not to reinvent the wheel when not needed. Instead, we established a marketplace where reputable software vendors can offer their existing technologies, supplementing any features missing from our core software.
With our expanding feature set and more partners joining the marketplace, we have branched out into several areas beyond additive manufacturing. Our users are now creating value in automated pre-/post-processing in simulation, democratizing FEA knowledge, as well as in casting, injection molding, and utility workflows. The versatility of our automation solutions enables application across various industries, including automotive, aviation, space, heavy industries, and even in the development processes for consumer products like kitchens, washing machines, shoes, and children’s toys.
Identifying the Need for Synera
What signs should a company look for that indicate it’s time to consider Synera for solving their engineering challenges? Who within an organization is ideally positioned to initiate this evaluation from a top down, and/or bottom up process?
Synera is designed to assist mechanical engineers who are eager to automate repetitive tasks, connect tools, or incorporate existing automation knowledge. Whether it’s through a macro for a specific software tool or a Python or C# script, our platform is open and encourages users to connect all existing tools to integrate them into their process automation workflows.
To identify your need for Synera and the right timing, consider these three questions:
1) Do I have repetitive, manual tasks that are time-consuming—either because the task itself takes a long time or because it needs to be repeated hundreds of times throughout the year?
2) Do I want to connect multiple CAE tools to replace in-person meetings, emails, and communications via PDF or PowerPoint?
3) Am I looking to integrate and leverage the power of my own scripts or self-developed automation routines?
If you answer “yes” to any one of these questions, then it’s time for us to have a conversation. If you answer “yes” to two or more, it’s almost certain that you will see immediate benefits and a clear return on investment from implementing Synera.
Top-down, we usually talk to the Head of Engineering, Department Lead CAE or Head of Innovation. These people are mainly interested in increasing efficiency.
Bottom-up, we come across the interested CAE engineer who wants to optimize his way of working and free himself from “monkey work”.
Software Integration and Partnerships:
Can you shed light on the other software tools that Synera’s customers typically integrate with, and the criteria and process behind selecting partners for your software program?
Synera customers, mechanical engineers and designers, typically are looking to integrate the tools that they already know and love into their Synera workflows. This means all the standard CAD and CAE solutions, but also products like Excel, Powerpoint, PLM solutions and more general purpose tools that make their way into engineering processes.
Synera operates an agnostic ecosystem, which means we don’t promise exclusivity to our partners. Our goal is that we have connections to any tool that a customer asks us for, even if there is a competitor on the marketplace already. Which is a scenario we do have today where we have Rafinex, Hexagon, and Altair all connecting topology optimization solutions to Synera.
If any software company is interested in offering an addin on our marketplace, they simply need to join the Synera Development Program to gain access to our APIs to start to develop on top of.
Adoption of Computational Design
Considering computational design necessitates a paradigm shift towards developing comprehensive systems for problem-solving — whether it’s optimizing a single part’s multi-objective performance or creating a process to generate multiple engineering solutions — how do you assess the industry’s readiness to embrace this broader, system-oriented approach?
The adoption of computational design in mechanical engineering is still emerging and not widely recognized as a distinct category. This leads to some confusion as technologies such as AI, computational design, computational engineering, connected engineering, topology optimization, and generative design are often intermingled.
Despite this complexity, the potential for system-oriented problem-solving—whether optimizing a single part’s performance or creating processes for multiple engineering solutions—is increasingly compelling to the industry.
The industry’s readiness to embrace this broader approach varies. It hinges on overcoming the challenges of distinguishing among these overlapping technologies and adopting a more integrated mindset.
Education and clear definitions will be crucial in helping engineers and companies navigate this ‘jungle’ of technologies. As understanding deepens and case studies demonstrating the benefits become more prevalent, we can expect a significant shift towards embracing computational design more fully. This evolution will likely accelerate as the distinctions become clearer and the advantages of a systemic approach are realized more broadly across the sector.
To summarize, there is a need to accelerate a mindset shift away from job descriptions centered on the manual design of individual parts towards the design of automation routines that ultimately result in designs.
This shift has already been successfully implemented in manufacturing, where, instead of deploying hundreds of people with hammers, saws, and screwdrivers into factory halls, we now design robots and program them to automate the manufacturing process. The role of engineers has evolved in manufacturing, and a similar transformation is necessary in the development phase to fully leverage computational design technologies.
Challenges in Adoption
What do you see as the primary obstacles to wider adoption of this system-based approach, and how does Synera facilitate this transition for companies and individuals?
One of the primary obstacles is the current lack of awareness among engineers about these methodologies and their benefits. This knowledge gap represents a significant challenge because engineers tend to stick with familiar tools and processes unless they can clearly see the advantages of new technologies.
Educating the market and establishing a new category within mechanical engineering are crucial steps. Experience shows that once engineers implement these approaches in their projects, their perspective shifts dramatically, but the initial engagement is the hurdle.
Synera facilitates this transition by not only providing a versatile software platform but also focusing on educating users about the potential and benefits of system-oriented computational design.
Synera supports this educational journey by offering resources and training, making it easier for engineers to experiment with and adopt these new workflows. Furthermore, by enabling the integration of various engineering tools and automations into a single workflow, Synera simplifies the learning curve and helps engineers see the immediate value in their projects.
This hands-on experience is key to changing perceptions and encouraging a shift from traditional part-based design to a more holistic, system-based approach. This way, Synera ensures that engineers and companies can adopt this innovative approach from the outset, fostering a broader and more efficient implementation across the industry.
Lastly, it’s important to acknowledge that change is always challenging. If new approaches aren’t straightforward, enjoyable, and simple, the transition becomes even more difficult. That’s why Synera is committed to making this shift as seamless as possible by integrating low-code technology within a user-friendly interface. This design choice ensures that there are no additional barriers for those embarking on this journey, making it more accessible and engaging for everyone involved.
Key Takeaways for CDFAM Berlin
As you prepare for your presentation at CDFAM Berlin, what are the main insights you hope attendees will gain? Additionally, what do you personally aim to learn or achieve at the event?
As I prepare for my presentation at CDFAM Berlin, the main insight I hope to impart to attendees is the importance of focusing on digitalizing work processes rather than just the final outputs like parts or stress reports.
This approach allows engineers and designers to concentrate on what truly matters—innovation and efficiency. By digitalizing the single development steps involved in a project, teams can gain a clearer understanding of each phase, identify opportunities for automation, and implement more cohesive and adaptive workflows.
Additionally, a significant takeaway I wish to emphasize is the potential of embracing a system-based approach. This perspective encourages looking beyond isolated tasks and towards interconnected systems, fostering a more holistic view of project management and execution.
Personally, at the event, I am eager to learn from the latest technological updates and customer success stories presented by other experts.
Hearing about real-world applications and the challenges others have overcome will enrich my understanding of the current landscape and help refine Synera’s offerings. Engaging with these insights fuels continuous improvement and innovation in our tools, ensuring they meet the evolving needs of the industry.
This engagement is not just about gathering information but also about forming connections that could lead to collaborative opportunities and shared growth in the field of computational design.
