Abstract
The globalization of the markets, increasing complexity and diversification of products as well as product and process innovations as central factors of business competition have forced companies to create new strategies of product development. This article examines how today’s companies have brought forth the necessary technical preconditions in the CAD environment for the application of virtual simulation and verification techniques. In addition to evaluation of contemporary techniques, the article is devoted to possible causes of missing basic conditions. These remarks will be concluded with prospects in future challenges of the product development.