From Insight to Impact: Simulation Is Shaping the Future of Smart Manufacturing

Written by Drawbridge Team

Penang, 4 December 2025 — Manufacturing professionals from across the northern region convened at Amari Hotel, Penang, for an industry seminar focused on how simulation technology is being applied to improve production efficiency and support smarter factory decision-making.

The seminar, “Smart Factory Simulation: Unlocking Efficiency with FlexSim Technology”, brought together engineers, managers and industry leaders to showcase practical approaches to digital manufacturing and simulation adoption.

The programme opened with “The Future of Digital Factory”, delivered by Franzisca Mann from Autodesk, which set the context on how manufacturers are evolving towards more connected, data-driven production environments and how Autodesk intends to grow alongside the entire industry as a whole.

This was followed by “FlexSim: Virtual Sandbox”, presented by Ilyas Ramdzan from Drawbridge Technologies, where participants were introduced to how simulation can be used to model and visualise manufacturing systems in a risk-free virtual environment.

In “FlexSim Case Spotlights: Simulate to Elevate”, Anis shared real-world examples demonstrating how common production challenges such as bottlenecks, layout inefficiencies and resource constraints can be analysed and addressed through simulation.

The broader ecosystem perspective was well addressed by Nicholas Tan from MDEC, who spoke on “Driving Malaysia’s Digital Manufacturing Transformation”, highlighting national initiatives and the role of digital technologies in strengthening manufacturing competitiveness.

The seminar concluded with “AI Development with Lenovo Workstations”, presented by Benjamin Lim, which explored how high-performance computing infrastructure supports simulation, analytics and AI-driven manufacturing workloads.

Strong Interest in Practical Applications

Throughout the session, participants showed particular interest in hands-on demonstrations and case-based discussions, reflecting a growing demand for practical tools that can support real operational decision-making.

Feedback from attendees indicated that simulation is increasingly viewed as a strategic capability for improving productivity, validating investments, and reducing operational risk.

Looking Ahead

As manufacturers continue to navigate rising complexity and cost pressures, simulation is emerging as a practical approach to testing ideas before implementation. Events such as this seminar highlight the industry’s growing focus on applying digital technologies in ways that deliver tangible operational value.

Drawbridge Technologies will continue engaging with manufacturers through follow-up discussions and targeted technical sessions aimed at translating simulation insights into real-world outcomes.