Understanding Customer Needs: The Fastest Path to Better Simulation Outcomes
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
In aerospace and defense, “good communication” isn’t a soft skill—it’s a performance requirement. When a simulator program misses the mark, the root cause is often simple: the supplier and customer weren’t aligned on what success actually looks like.
At Simtek, we’ve learned that the best way to deliver high-quality simulated avionics isn’t to start with hardware. It’s to start with understanding the customer’s needs—clearly, completely, and early.
“Need” Isn’t Just a Part Number
A customer request might begin with a drawing, a TRD, or a list of panels. But behind that request are the things that matter most:
Training objectives: What behaviors are you trying to teach?
Fidelity expectations: What must be exact vs. what can be representative?
Operational environment: How many cycles per day? How harsh is the use?
Integration reality: What interfaces, software, and I/O constraints exist?
Schedule and risk: What’s fixed, what’s flexible, and what’s the long pole?
A quote based only on a BOM can look great on paper—and still fail in real-world integration.
The Questions That Prevent Costly Surprises
When we engage early, we focus on the questions that protect schedule, budget, and performance:
What is the intended simulator level (procedural, part-task, FTD, Level D, etc.)?
Are we matching form, fit, function, or all three?
What is the expected duty cycle (switch actuations, lighting hours, wear points)?
What are the electrical interfaces and expected signaling (discrete, analog, Ethernet)?
Who owns system behavior—the customer, the integrator, or the hardware supplier?
What are the acceptance criteria and how will verification be conducted?
These aren’t “extra steps.” They’re the fastest way to avoid rework.
Listening Creates Better Engineering
When customer needs are understood, engineering decisions become easier—and smarter:
We can build the right durability into high-wear items from day one
We can design for serviceability so field replacements don’t become nightmares
We can tailor fidelity to the training value, not just what looks impressive
We can document assumptions clearly so everyone stays aligned
The result is fewer surprises, fewer change orders, and a smoother path to acceptance.
Clear Requirements = Faster Quotes and Cleaner Builds
Customers often want speed—and we do too. The best way to accelerate quoting and build cycles is to start with clarity.
When we have the right information upfront, we can:
Provide a more accurate quote with fewer “unknowns”
Lock down interfaces early to prevent late-stage redesigns
Establish a test plan that supports objective acceptance
Build repeatable, high-quality units with predictable lead times
How Simtek Approaches Customer Alignment
At Simtek, we treat customer alignment as part of our quality culture. That means we emphasize:
Direct communication with decision-makers and integrators
Clear documentation of assumptions and interfaces
Early identification of risks, long-lead items, and technical unknowns
Realistic commitments—and strong follow-through
We don’t want to be the vendor that “builds what you asked for.”We want to be the partner that delivers what you actually need.
