Introduction
We are witnessing the most significant shift in engineering since the introduction of CAD. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer an experimental feature; it is becoming the core infrastructure of the engineering field. The impact of AI is not about replacing engineers, but about augmenting their capabilities, allowing them to move from being “drafters and calculators” to “orchestrators of intelligent systems.”
In the context of Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), AI acts as the brain that connects the massive amounts of data generated across the digital thread, turning raw information into actionable wisdom.
How AI is Redefining the Engineering Lifecycle
The impact of AI can be felt across every stage of the professional field:
1. Shift from “Heuristic” to “Predictive” Design
Traditional engineering relies on experience and “rules of thumb.” AI analyzes millions of historical data points to predict outcomes.
- Impact: Engineers can now predict potential fatigue failures or supply chain bottlenecks months before they occur.
2. Radical Productivity in Documentation
A significant portion of an engineer’s time is spent on non-engineering tasks (writing reports, updating requirements, compliance documentation).
- Impact: AI-driven tools can automate up to 60-70% of technical writing, freeing engineers to focus on complex problem-solving.
3. Democratization of Expertise
AI assistants act as “junior experts” that have read every manual, standard, and past project file in the company.
- Impact: Junior engineers can reach high levels of proficiency faster, and senior engineers can delegate routine technical checks to the AI.
The 3 Pillars of AI Impact
| Pillar | Description | Result |
| Cognitive Automation | Automating logical tasks like requirement classification or error detection. | Faster “Quality Gates” and fewer manual errors. |
| Generative Power | Using AI to suggest new geometries, materials, or code structures. | Designs that exceed human imagination in efficiency. |
| Edge Intelligence | AI embedded in the product (IoT) that learns from real-world use. | Products that improve after they are sold (Digital Twin loop). |
New Challenges for the Engineering Professional
The rise of AI also brings new responsibilities:
- Ethical Oversite: Engineers must ensure AI models are unbiased and prioritize safety over speed.
- AI Literacy: The “new” engineering skill is no longer just knowing the math, but knowing how to prompt, train, and verify AI systems.
- Validation of “Black Boxes”: Developing new methods to test and certify designs that were created by AI algorithms.
How Visure Solutions Facilitates the AI Transition
Visure Requirements ALM Platform ensures that the impact of AI on your engineering team is positive, controlled, and compliant:
- Trustworthy AI Integration: Visure doesn’t just “add AI”; it integrates AI into a strictly traceable environment. Every AI suggestion is linked to a human-approved requirement.
- Automated Requirements Quality: Our AI Assistant analyzes your engineering specifications for ambiguity, ensuring that the “fuel” you give to other AI design tools is high-quality.
- Governance and Security: Visure provides the private, secure environment needed to use AI without risking your company’s intellectual property.
- Seamless Traceability: As AI accelerates the design process, Visure’s automated traceability ensures that documentation doesn’t fall behind, maintaining a perfect “Digital Thread.”
Conclusion: The Rise of the Augmented Engineer
The impact of AI on the engineering field is ultimately a story of empowerment. By offloading the repetitive, the complex, and the data-heavy tasks to intelligent systems, engineers are returning to the heart of their profession: innovation. The most successful companies will be those that integrate AI not as a separate tool, but as a foundational element of their PLM strategy.
With Visure, you are ready for this new era. We provide the governance and requirements-driven framework that makes AI a reliable partner in your journey to engineer the products of tomorrow.
Check out the 14-day free trial at Visure and experience how AI-driven change control can help you manage changes faster, safer, and with full audit readiness.
