Filipino engineers and scientists can be on a par with their foreign counterparts, Engr. Vicente DyReyes, a Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Balik-Scientist and the program director of the Finite Element Technology of Feati University, believes.
The National University civil engineering graduate pointed out that Filipinos could compete head-to-head on with their foreign counterparts given the right opportunity, facilities, resources and equipment.
DyReyes spoke at the recent launching of the partnership of Feati University and MSC Software with the signing of a memorandum of agreement early this month. A US-based engineering firm, MSC Software appointed Feati as its “center of excellence” in the Philippines.
Feati University President Dr. Adolfor Jesus Gopez welcomed the partnership.
“[This is] the new resolution in engineering technology,” he said.
By introducing the MSC Software, the Philippines can now test and certify its products through virtual simulation prior to manufacturing.
Through its partnership with MSC, Feati expects this to help prepare future engineers from various fields to meet the new challenges in product design or product innovation, as well as industry requirements.
“We need to upgrade the local industries. We need to make a globally competitive product. With little knowledge, we have to acquire tools, such as the MSC,” DyReyes said in an interview with reporters.
He expects the country can be more competitive in three to five years and export high-value products to the world market.
“Once I get to teach in Feati, I will produce the teachers that will mentor the students,” he said.
Feati was founded in 1946 as an aeronautics school to train and develop aircraft mechanics and engineers.
After gaining valuable and relevant knowledge in aerospace engineering overseas, mainly in the United States, DyReyes is doing a pay back—through the Balik Scientist program from 2019 to 2020—by sharing his expertise to his fellow Filipinos so they can make an impact in the engineering field in the global market.
“Our goal’s here is to be commercially competitive not only locally but globally, as well. I encourage academe to acquire the MSC software and later produce products for the world market. That is the way to increase it. That is why I am telling the scientists here to focus on developing products needed out there. Once we have it, we can now compete in the global market,” he explained.
The Philippines can produce products that are very affordable to the global market. “All we need is to develop the talent in the country to make them competitive in the international market,” he added.
DyReyes said foreign scientists have lots of resources, which can harness their talents and potentials to the fullest. Nevertheless, Filipino scientists can be on a par with their foreign counterparts if they are given the right sources, opportunities and facilities.
“All we have to do is to have the tool to improve the product and simulate it,” he said.
The Finite Element Analysis Simulation software was first developed in the 1960s for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) program in aerospace, which pioneered in simulation of space vehicle design, which was commercialized by MSC Corp.
With the stringent product quality standard requirements of the international market, Philippine products tested and certified through virtual simulation prior to manufacturing can be generated at a faster rate, much lower costs, and at levels of quality possible exceeding worldwide standards.
DyReyes pointed out MSC is using cutting-edge software technology in validating engineering designs not only in aerospace industry but in other engineering fields, such as civil engineering, transportation and medical field.
“My background in using this software for more than four decades has afforded me a ringside seat in witnessing how the finite element analysis and virtual simulation tools of MSC Software is bridging the gap between designs, manufacturing and implementation, not just in aerospace but in every application that requires design, verification and production for commercial use” he said.
In the last 40 years, DyReyes was involved in research and development on aerospace with NorthropGrumman Corp., such as in buckling analysis of the wing structure of Nasa space shuttle.
With the entry of MSC in the Philippines, he said Filipino engineers, technical professionals, academe and almost everyone involved in design, verification and applications can now pursue in developing world-class products.
Moreover, with partnership formed between Feati University and MSC software the Philippines can now pursue design verification through the Finite Element Analysis and virtual simulation at an affordable rate.
He said Feati’s engineering curriculum would now include courses in Finite Element Analysis Methods and train students on how to use it in virtual design simulation.
Feati will also offer and certify training on the use of MSC software’s tools in design verification and virtual simulation. He said the trainings will be open to all professionals, academe and also government institutions involved in research and development, design, construction and the like.
When the use of MSC Software gains more recognition and acceptance in the country, DyReyes said Philippine engineering schools are be expected to integrate and use the technology in their respective engineering curricula.
He recommended that training on MSC start at high-school level, pointing out that it is the right stage for students to be innovative, creative and take risks.
“Creativity is the most important thing here in using MSC software,” he said.
Image credits: Lyn Resurreccion