PERMAS is capable to perform finite element analyses in statics, dynamics, acoustics, thermodynamics, electromagnetics, optimisation, and reliability analysis. Fully up-to-date algorithms and a modern software architecture minimize the computer time requirements. Even the largest models are processed with minor central memory and disk requirements. Model variants may be included in the same analysis; complex models may be decomposed into substructures. PERMAS has been integrated into numerous pre- and post-processors and CAD software (like MEDINA, HyperWorks, Virtual.Lab, CATIA, I-DEAS, PATRAN). PERMAS is available on all widely used platforms. In particular, on parallel platforms (shared memory and distributed memory machines) all PERMAS analysis types have been fully parallelised for much faster execution.