OPENSPACE 22: Rosetta: Making Space History | Page 22

Arne Matthyssen
Concurrent Design Expert
“Concurrent Design Is about Integration and
Creating Common Understanding of Each
Discipline’s Challenges from the Start”
Products that are the result of complex
engineering processes can now be
designed and engineered faster and with
leaner processes. Applying a consistent
concurrent design approach right from
the start could save time and money for
companies and its clients.
C
oncurrent design is a relatively new methodology
that has its roots in the space sector. Over the
past few years, other industries have embraced
and implemented the methodology to their design and
engineering processes. Arne Matthyssen, RHEA Group
Director, Technical Execution, is a pioneer in the definition
and application of concurrent design. For over 15 years, he
has helped organizations such as ESA, Airbus Defense and
Space, TNO, and others optimize their engineering processes
and has led concurrent sessions for customers in building and
construction, offshore, and shipbuilding industries.
He shared his concurrent design experience with us and
talked about the advances that are revolutionizing the way
engineering is done.
How long have you been working in concurrent design?
For about 15 years. I started working on concurrent design
in 2001 at ESA’s concurrent design facility (CDF). In 2003,
ESA started its Business Incubator Center (BIC) in Noordwijk,
The Netherlands, and I applied to become part of it. In the
same year, I recruited Sam Gerené, RHEA Group’s Lead
System Engineer, and we officially joined the BIC in 2004.
At the same time, I was working at the CDF three days a
Arne Matthyssen, RHEA Group’s Director, Technical
Execution, during the presentation Creating the Engineer
of the Future at Hogeschool Inholland Rotterdam,
Netherlands.
22 OpenSpace 22
week. In 2006, we finally had our concurrent design product,
and we left the incubator to start our company, J-CDS. We
continued with the company and working for ESA part time
until mid-2012, after having joined the RHEA Group in 2011.