Tecosim is a US$30-million-a-year, publicly traded company with 250 employees in four countries, including the U.S., and Veith continues to directly oversee all areas of Tecosim's business, including its IT spending.

Most of Tecosim's customers are Detroit auto makers, whose troubles are well-known. Surprisingly, that hasn't hurt Tecosim yet, nor does Veith expect it to.

"We work mostly for the R&D departments of auto makers, which haven't been affected yet," he said. "Auto makers have to invest in the future."

Another reason Veith doesn't expect Tecosim to cut back on IT spending is that he believes the company already gets as good a deal as it can expect.

Tecosim spends about $2 million a year on software, most of it on high-end CAD and engineering applications rented via and its partners.