Which process allows engineers to predict the performance of a design before physical production?

The correct answer is simulations, as this process enables engineers to create a virtual model of a design and analyze its behavior under various conditions. This predictive capability is crucial because it allows for the identification of potential issues, optimization of performance, and evaluation of reliability before any actual production occurs. Simulations can incorporate complex variables and scenarios, which would be difficult, time-consuming, or costly to replicate in the real world with physical prototypes.

Prototypes are essential for demonstrating concepts and testing functionality, but they require physical materials and construction, preventing early insights into a design's theoretical performance. Field testing involves implementing a design in a real-world setting to observe its performance, providing valuable data but only after production has begun. Manual calculations can serve as a preliminary assessment tool, but they often lack the depth and comprehensive analysis that simulations provide, especially for complex systems.