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Whenever a new simulation tool or method is introduced into a product development process, immediately the tool is required to prove its worth before it can be trusted. Typically, this requires a reproduction of results that were originally obtained using physical measurement equipment. Proving out a simulation tool or method has challenges. The challenges include the need to engineer a test representative of the problems that the tool will need to solve but be simple enough for the results to be easily understood. Electromagnetic modeling and simulation tools are able to solve many types of problems, such as determining electromagnetic cross coupling from one conductor to another, the radiation of an electromagnetic field by a conductor, and analyzing impedance of a printed circuit board power distribution network. There are problems that arise in both measurement and modeling techniques but the two used together can overcome the weaknesses of either technique.

With the increasing content of electronics in automobiles and faster development times, it is essential that electronics hardware design and vehicle electrical architecture is done early and correctly. Today, the first designs are done in the electronic format with circuit and CAD design tools. Once the initial design is completed, several iterations are typically conducted in a “peer review” methodology to incorporate “best practices” before actual hardware is built. Among the many challenges facing electronics design and integration is electromagnetic compatibility (EMC). Success in EMC starts at the design phase with a relevant “lessons learned” data set that encompasses component technology content, schematic and printed circuit board (PCB) layout, and wiring using computer aided engineering (CAE) tools.